Examining the pathway linking workplace incivility and employee well-being: a study among frontline hotel employees in India

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the direct relationship between workplace incivility and employee well-being among frontline hotel employees. Anchoring on affective events theory, this study also analyzes the explanatory role of loneliness and the role of workplace social support as a boundary condition influencing the proposed relationships in the model. Design/methodology/approachResponses were collected from 243 frontline hotel employees using established scales in two-time points through survey method. The proposed hypotheses were analyzed using SPSS PROCESS macros. FindingsThe results confirmed the detrimental effect of incivility at work on employee well-being and the mediating role of loneliness at work. This. study has also demonstrated that workplace social support conditions the mediated effect of workplace incivility on employee well-being via loneliness. Practical implicationsThis study has vital practical implications for mitigating the adverse effects of workplace incivility on employee well-being through loneliness at work by developing interventions that foster social support among employees. This study also provides directions to reduce workplace incivility and loneliness at work. Originality/valueThis study provides a unique understanding of the consequences of workplace incivility on employee well-being. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this could be the first study that has established loneliness as a pathway linking workplace incivility and employee well-being. This study results have unique significance in the management of hospitality employees.