Workplace bullying in Pakistan: Mapping the implications of social cynicism and the moderation of Islamic work ethic

The herein reported study aims to expand the literature on antecedents of workplace bullying by examining its relationship with social cynicism in the context of Pakistan. In addition, this study aims to examine whether Islamic Work Ethic (IWE) moderates this relationship. The study has adopted a quantitative research design with data collected through a survey of 350 healthcare professionals in Pakistan. The findings reveal that while social cynicism has a direct and positive effect on perceived bullying in the workplace, IWE moderates this effect, such that the effect is weaker among employees with a higher IWE as compared to those with a lower IWE. The findings have important implications to understanding the process of how bullying may be perceived in the workplace, and the role played by employees’ values and belief systems in shaping these perceptions. Importantly, the findings highlight that IWE can safeguard against perceived bullying in the workplace by buffering the potential positive impact of social cynicism on it. All in all, this is the first study that examines the relationship between social cynicism and workplace bullying. It also explores the boundary conditions placed by IWE in this relationship.