Do Not Make Employees Futile: The Impact of Acquiescent Silence on Negative Workplace Gossip,Employee Exhaustion,and Intention to Quit

Abstract

This study investigates how acquiescent silence impacts employees’ intention to quit through the mediating effect of negative workplace gossip about supervisors and emotional exhaustion. The data were collected from 241 UK-based employees and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The results reveal that acquiescent silence directly increases negative workplace gossip about supervisors, emotional exhaustion, and intention to quit, pointing to its harmful effects. Further analysis suggests that engaging in negative workplace gossip about supervisors does not serve as a coping mechanism or alleviate frustration. Instead, negative workplace gossip about supervisors has a depleting effect as it exacerbates the impact of suppressed employee voice. These results shed light on the complexities of workplace dynamics and emphasize the importance of addressing acquiescent silence and negative gossip to foster healthier work environments.