Negative behaviors among employees: the impact on the intention to leave work

Abstract

PurposeThis study examines the effect of three negative behaviors namely alienation behavior, cynicism behavior and silence behavior on employees’ intention to leave work in the telecommunication sector in the Sultanate of Oman.Design/methodology/approachUsing a simple random sampling technique, data was collected using a questionnaire from 204 employees working in two leading telecommunication service providing agencies (Omantel and Ooredoo) in Oman. The collected data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS software.FindingsThe findings of the study indicate a significant effect of both cynicism behavior and work alienation behavior on employees’ intention to leave work while silence behavior did not appear to affect employees’ intention to leave work.Practical implicationsThe research suggests that the policymakers are required to take corrective measures and implement policies and work practices that ensure employees’ sincere engagement to work.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the knowledge regarding the effect of employees’ negative behavior on the intention to leave work. The work is novel in the context of studying the effect in the Sultanate of Oman.