Prior studies on ECN have often referenced organisational justice (Dean et al., 1998;
DeCelles et al., 2013; Kanter & Mirvis, 1989) as its dominant theoretical foundation.
While we agree with those prior studies that injustice may facilitate ECN, our research has
proposed a new perspective to explain the formation of ECN by identifying a new crucial
variable: workplace gossip. Managers should not underestimate the significance of
workplace gossip, as previous studies and our research have found that different types of
gossip are associated with different outcomes. Specifically, our findings have affirmed that
JRG is a valid and strong ingredient, contributing to the formation of ECN.