Trickle‐Down Effect of Supervisor Ostracism on Employee Knowledge Sabotage Behaviour: A Serial Mediation Model of Employee Neuroticism and Time Theft

ABSTRACT Drawing on social exchange theory, this study intends to investigate the association between supervisor ostracism and employee knowledge sabotage behaviour. The study further examines the serial mediating roles of employee neuroticism and time theft in the link between supervisor ostracism and knowledge sabotage, as well as the moderating influence of leader‐member exchange (LMX). We collected time‐lagged survey data from three rounds, involving 503 employees working in the service sector in Guangdong Province, China. To analyse the data, we used SEM with Mplus. The results indicate that supervisor ostracism is positively related to employee knowledge sabotage behaviour. Furthermore, employee neuroticism and time theft act as serial mediators of the link between supervisor ostracism and knowledge sabotage. Furthermore, high LMX weakens the positive association between supervisor ostracism and employee neuroticism, as well as the link to knowledge sabotage behaviour.