Workplace Incivility and Counterproductive Work Behavior: Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence

The present study was conducted to examine the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between workplace incivility and counterproductive work behavior (abuse, production deviance, sabotage, theft, and withdrawal behavior). A total of one hundred and sixty university teachers completed measures of emotional intelligence, workplace incivility, and counterproductive work behavior in seven public and private sector universities of Pakistan. Moderated multiple regression analyses were employed to test the interaction between workplace incivility and emotional intelligence on five facets of counterproductive work behavior. Results showed that there was a positive relationship between incivility and counterproductive work behavior and negative relationship between emotional intelligence and counterproductive work behavior. The interaction of workplace incivility and emotional intelligence explained a significant portion of variance in five facets of counterproductive work behavior. Emotional intelligence emerged as a significant moderator between workplace incivility and counterproductive work behavior. Keeping in view the strong and positive relationship between workplace incivility and counterproductive work behavior, training on both etiquette and emotional intelligence had been recommended for employees.