Workaholism and workplace incivility: the role of work–family enrichment

Abstract

Purpose

This paper investigated the relationships among workaholism, work–family enrichment (work–life enrichment), and workplace incivility.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on workaholism, incivility, and work–family enrichment were collected through the administration of a survey on 414 employees of a public bank in Iran.

Findings

Workaholism and life–work enrichment were positively and negatively related to uncivil behaviors, respectively, and workaholism was positively associated with work–family enrichment. Overall, work–family enrichment did not act as a mediator variable between workaholism and uncivil behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Future researchers should consider public or private organizations and assess the different instigators of incivility considering the mediator or moderating role of gender.

Practical implications

Managers should focus on reducing workaholism and developing life–work enrichment in order to decrease uncivil behaviors.

Social implications

Given the hard economic and complex political conditions in Iran and increasing likelihood of uncivil behaviors, the results of the present study offer ways to minimize workplace incivility in employees.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the research on uncivil behavior by improving the understanding of organizational and personal factors (workaholism and work–life enrichment) that can influence workplace incivility among employees working in public organizations. It also addresses the usefulness of examining work–life enrichment disposition in understanding the relationship between workaholism and workplace incivility.

Citation

Taheri, F., Asarian, M. and Shahhosseini, P. (2021), "Workaholism and workplace incivility: the role of work–family enrichment", Management Decision, Vol. 59 No. 2, pp. 372-389. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-08-2019-1035