Online Employees Communication Behaviours During Crisis in Jordanian Public Hospitals: The Value of Internal Communication Practices

Abstract

The present study examined symmetrical communication (SC) and transparent communication (TC) by studying crisis employee-organization relationships (EOR) and their causes and effects. The study utilised relationship management theory (RMT) to evaluate crisis-related online employee communication. It examined RMT antecedents and consequences, including EOR, SC and TC. The study conducted an online survey through a questionnaire collecting data from 392 full-time employees at three public hospitals in Jordan. It tested the hypotheses using PLS-SEM. It supported the link between TC and online ECB. The results did not support the hypothesis that SC directly affected online employee communication. The relationships between SC, TC and EOR were also supported. SC, TC, and online employees’ communication behaviour (ECB) were fully mediated by the role of the employee-organization relationships. This study could contribute new knowledge to the literature on internal communication, EORs, and ECB in online settings. Hence, the study examined the theoretical framework of RMT in the context of the healthcare sector and its practical effects on online employee communication during a crisis.