Workplace incivility: the impact on the Malaysian public service department

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the implication of workplace incivility among employees in the public service department in Putrajaya involving job satisfaction, work stress, psychological contract, knowledge sharing and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study examines the implication of workplace incivility among 180 employees in the Malaysian public service organization. Purposive sampling was used in this study. Partial least square was used to examine the measurement and the structural model of this study.

Findings

The result demonstrated that workplace incivility was associated with the psychological contract, job satisfaction, work stress and work engagement. The study also found that workplace incivility does not impact knowledge sharing in the public service organization department.

Practical implications

Future research could provide a more broadened scope to ensure the generalization of the results for the overall public service in Malaysia. Human resource development researchers could look into experimental studies to raise the awareness of workplace incivility that may lead to the decline of workplace incivility.

Originality/value

The research could trigger more empirical research toward understanding the phenomenon and implication of workplace incivility in the perspective of Malaysian public service organizations specifically in Asian countries, which are currently limited.