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Workplace aggression and organisational effectiveness: The mediating role of employee engagement

Author

Listed:
  • Anya Johnson

    (Work and Organisational Studies, The University of Sydney Business School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

  • Helena Nguyen

    (Work and Organisational Studies, The University of Sydney Business School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

  • Markus Groth

    (Business School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

  • Les White

    (School of Women’s and Children’s Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Institute for Health Innovation, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia)

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between the prevalence of workplace aggression and two key outcomes: employee engagement and organisational effectiveness. Drawing on social capital theory, we propose that the level of employee engagement within the organisation helps explain the association between workplace aggression and organisational effectiveness. We used secondary survey data and an important indicator of organisational effectiveness in the healthcare sector (i.e. rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)) from 101 hospitals in NSW, Australia. We found that hospitals with higher rates of workplace aggression had higher rates of patients with HAIs and that employee engagement was an important mechanism that helped explain this effect. These findings underscore the potential benefits of management policies and practices that are aimed at preventing workplace aggression and support greater employee engagement. JEL Classification: L120

Suggested Citation

  • Anya Johnson & Helena Nguyen & Markus Groth & Les White, 2018. "Workplace aggression and organisational effectiveness: The mediating role of employee engagement," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 43(4), pages 614-631, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:43:y:2018:i:4:p:614-631
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896218768378
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Sabine Hahn & Marianne Müller & Ian Needham & Theo Dassen & Gerjo Kok & Ruud JG Halfens, 2010. "Factors associated with patient and visitor violence experienced by nurses in general hospitals in Switzerland: a cross‐sectional survey," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(23‐24), pages 3535-3546, December.
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    6. repec:ilo:ilowps:384511 is not listed on IDEAS
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