The social context of workplace mistreatment: A multilevel approach

This study extended organizational mistreatment theory and research by conceptualizing group-level mistreatment within units across one organization as a social context that moderated the negative impact of individual-level mistreatment on individual outcomes. Data were collected from 1212 faculty in 96 departments. The results of multilevel modeling indicated that group-level mistreatment (i.e., incivility and sex discrimination) moderated the negative consequences of individual-level mistreatment on individual outcomes such that the negative consequences of individual-level mistreatment on perceived organizational support, burnout (disengagement and exhaustion), productivity, and work-family conflict (work interference with family and family interference with work) were stronger when group-level mistreatment was low than when group-level mistreatment was high. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.