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The study aims to address the limited understanding on the role of cognitive mechanisms in workplace ostracism (WO) and negative workplace behaviours (such as counterproductive workplace behaviours (CWBs)) relation. Although the affective routes of this relationship have been extensively studied, the role of cognitive routes remains largely unexplored.

A parallel mediation model was developed to study the affective (emotional exhaustion) and the cognitive (felt accountability) mechanisms within the WO and CWBs relation. Regulatory focus theory was used to explain how these routes may influence CWB. Data for the study were gathered cross-sectionally, with common method bias checks. We analysed through Smart PLS for the measurement model and SPSS Hayes PROCESS macros for the structural model.

Study results corroborated the proposed model on the salience of the newly proposed cognitive pathway in relation to the affective route of the WO–CWB model.

This research underscores a novel cognitive pathway, felt accountability, in the WO–WB relation, expanding upon the predominantly affective-focused extant literature. Furthermore, the study outlines both theoretical and practical implications, along with highlighting limitations and potential directions for future inquiries.