Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
3-2025
Abstract
The majority of research on voice has focused on how employee voice influences voicers and targets of voice (e.g. supervisors and organizations). We advance theory on voice by examining how third-party observers react to expressions of voice behavior by coworkers. Drawing from affective events theory (AET), we examine the potential benefits and detriments of coworker voice behaviours. Results from an experience sampling study and an experiment revealed that coworker voice was associated with an increase in third-party observers' inspiration, prompting third-party observers to engage in their own voice behaviours. Although coworker voice did not have a significant main effect on third-party observers' distress, this relation was moderated by third-party observers' zero-sum beliefs. Specifically, daily coworker voice behaviour was more positively related to third-party observers' distress when third-party observers' zero-sum beliefs were higher (vs. lower). Third-party observers' distress, in turn, was associated with an increase in interpersonal deviance behaviours. Overall, our theorizing and model answer why, when and for whom the bright versus dark side of coworker voice is likely to occur for third-party observers.
Keywords
affective events theory, interpersonal deviance, third-party reactions, voice
Discipline
Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Organizational Behavior and Theory
Research Areas
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Areas of Excellence
Sustainability
Publication
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
Volume
98
Issue
1
First Page
1
Last Page
27
ISSN
0963-1798
Identifier
10.1111/joop.12546
Publisher
Wiley
Citation
LIN, Szu-Han; FATIMAH, Shereen; POULTON, Emily C.; HO, Cony M.; FERRIS, D. Lance; and JOHNSON, Russell E..
Every voice has its bright and dark sides: Understanding observers’ reactions to coworkers’ voice behaviors. (2025). Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 98, (1), 1-27.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/7636
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12546
Included in
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons
