Do you feel angry when you are gossiped about? Understanding the mechanism underlying negative workplace gossip and service sabotage

Applying affective events theory, this study empirically tested the framework of negative workplace gossip and frontline employees’ service sabotage. Based on a time-lagged design, this research found that negative workplace gossip exerted a positive effect on frontline hospitality employees’ service sabotage by inducing their anger. In addition, narcissism intensified the link between negative workplace gossip and anger, and self-control buffered the relationship between anger and service sabotage. A moderated mediation model was developed and described. This research thus provided significant implications to the academia and practitioners.