Older and Less Deviant? The Paths Through Emotional Labor and Organizational Cynicism

• DOI: 10.1093/workar/waaa017
• Publication Date: 2020-08-07T19:18:30Z
• Authors: Yisheng Peng; Jie Ma; Wenqin Zhang; Steve Jex
• Keywords: Cynicism; Deviance; Emotional Labor; Incivility; Positive deviance

Abstract Previous research suggests that workplace deviance, one of the most pressing problems for today’s organizations, tends to decline as employees age. However, little is known about mechanisms underlying age-deviance relationship. Using aggregated 5-day daily diary data in a sample 158 Chinese full-time employees, present study examined age differences use emotional labor strategies (i.e., surface acting and deep acting) how these relate employee deviance via organizational cynicism. Results found was negatively related both acting. Emotional cynicism serially mediated relationship between deviance. The current deepens our understanding process by which relates This also has implications management an increasingly age-diverse workforce can guide future interventions aiming at reducing issue increasing concern organizations society general.