“Is my voicing up linked to social pain I bear”: examining the correlates of internal whistleblowing
ISSN: 0142-5455
Article publication date: 26 March 2024
Issue publication date: 19 July 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Undertaking the theoretical lens of “The need to belong” theory, the present study intends to explore the aftermath of internal whistleblowing and the behavioral outcomes that follow by linking it to the literature on workplace ostracism, loneliness and intentions to quit.
Design/methodology/approach
The respondents were hotel employees in the Delhi NCR region of northern India. A hypothesized sequential mediation model was tested on a sample of employees from a hotel using a three-wave time-lagged multistudy design.
Findings
The findings of the study established that internal whistleblowing leads to intentions to quit via workplace ostracism and loneliness at work.
Originality/value
The unique contribution of this study lies in understanding the underlying mechanisms and discussing the behavioral outcomes that follow post-whistleblowing. HR managers need to develop a work environment that protects whistleblowers and has a zero-tolerance policy against employees engaging in any form of retaliation or unethical business practices. Managers must be more proactive and sensitive to the social cues that will make them aware of the presence of acts of ostracism. Upon encountering such acts, managers can consider counseling employees engaging in such unhealthy practices.
Keywords
Citation
Sethi, S. and Madan, P. (2024), "“Is my voicing up linked to social pain I bear”: examining the correlates of internal whistleblowing", Employee Relations, Vol. 46 No. 4, pp. 756-775. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2023-0378
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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