This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived negative gossip and altruism in the workplace. Specifically, it examines the mediating role of reputational concern and the moderating role of belief in karma (BK) in determining how employees respond behaviourally to negative gossip.
The study used a quantitative approach using an online survey. Data were collected from 258 employees in Indonesia. The hypotheses were tested using a moderated mediation model to analyse the direct effects of negative gossip on reputational concern and the conditional indirect effects on altruism based on the level of belief in karma.
The results indicate that perceived negative gossip significantly increases employees’ reputational concern. Furthermore, reputational concern motivates altruistic behaviour specifically among employees who hold a strong belief in karma. In contrast, for employees with a low belief in karma, reputational concern does not significantly predict altruism.
Since gossip is inevitable in organisations, managers can mitigate its negative effects by fostering a culture of fairness and accountability. By reinforcing the principle that actions have consequences (mirroring karmic beliefs), managers can encourage employees to respond to reputational threats through positive organisational citizenship behaviours rather than withdrawal or cynicism.
This research contributes to the literature by highlighting how specific spiritual and moral intuitions function as a cognitive pathway for reputation management. Unlike previous studies focusing on the detrimental effects of gossip, this study offers a novel perspective on how belief in supernatural justice (karma) can transform the threat of negative gossip into positive prosocial behaviour.
