Responses to co-workers
receiving recognition at work
Marjolein Feys and Frederik Anseel
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organizational Psychology,
Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, and
Bart Wille
Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology,
Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of co-workers receiving recognition on
two types of responses, namely emotions (positive and negative) and behavioral intentions
(interpersonal counterproductive behavior and interpersonal citizenship behavior).
Design/methodology/approach – This study is an experimental scenario study with a 2 £ 2
between-subjects design with 246 employees from a local health care organization.
Findings – The findings reveal that the relation between the recognition of others and positive or
negative emotions was moderated by the quality of the relationship between both actors. Further, as
hypothesized, the relation between the recognition of others and interpersonal counterproductive
behavior was moderated by relationship quality. Contrary to the authors’ expectations, relationship
quality did not moderate the relation between employee recognition and interpersonal citizenship
behavior.
Practical implications – This study provides useful suggestions for managers to diminish
undesired (i.e. negative emotions and interpersonal counterproductive behavior) and enhance desired
emotions and behaviors (i.e. positive emotions and interpersonal citizenship behavior).
Originality/value – This study is the first to show that employee recognition may have negative
effects on the emotions of others and interpersonal behavior (i.e. interpersonal counterproductive
behavior).
Keywords Employee recognition, Relationship quality, Interpersonal counterproductive behavior,
Organizational citizenship behaviors, Positive and negative affect, Health care, Employees
Paper type Research paper