The effect of exposure to bullying on turnover intentions: the role of perceived psychological contract violation and benevolent behaviour

ABSTRACT

This study analyses the relationship between exposure to workplace bullying and turnover intentions. We hypothesised that this relationship is mediated by perceptions of psychological contract violation, and that employee benevolence acts as a moderator. A survey design was employed and data were collected among business professionals (n = 1148). The analyses confirmed that perceived psychological contract violation partially explains the relationship between exposure to bullying and turnover intentions. The mediation process was stronger for those reporting more benevolent behaviour, suggesting that the importance of perceived psychological contract violation is greater among those scoring high on benevolent behaviour. The results also show that highly benevolent employees are more affected by exposure to bullying behaviour, although the effects were equally detrimental, irrespective of benevolent behaviour, when employees were exposed to very high levels of bullying. The study advances understanding of the mechanisms that govern outcomes of exposure to bullying, highlighting in particular the role of perceived psychological contract violation, and examining differences concerning high or low benevolence employees.

KEYWORDS:

• Bullying
• employee mistreatment
• harassment
• psychological contract violation
• turnover intentions

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Jannika Österberg, who worked as a research assistant for the lead author, for her assistance in translating and testing the questionnaire as well as collecting data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Denise Salin http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4279-3136

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Academy of Finland [grant number 266294] and the Research Council of Norway [grant number 250127].