The double-edged sword of negative workplace gossip: when and how negative workplace gossip promotes versus inhibits knowledge hiding

As a widespread phenomenon in organizations, negative workplace gossip may either facilitate or inhibit knowledge hiding among gossip targets. However, existing literature has not reached a consensus on this matter. Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study proposes the double-edged sword effect of negative workplace gossip and explores when and how negative workplace gossip can promote or inhibit knowledge hiding of the targets. This study collected data from 309 Chinese employees through a two-wave questionnaire survey and analyzed the data using Mplus 8.3 and Process Macro. The study found that for targets with an external locus of control, negative workplace gossip stimulates their negative emotions, thereby promoting knowledge hiding. Conversely, for targets with an internal locus of control, negative workplace gossip will promote their relational crafting, thereby inhibiting knowledge hiding. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and future research directions, which can help scholars and managers have a better understanding of negative workplace gossip.