The link between negative workplace gossip and employee creativity in healthcare organizations – a moderated mediation model

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate how negative workplace gossip (NWG), defined as informal and critical talk about absent colleagues, reduces employee creativity in healthcare organizations. Drawing on social cognitive theory (SCT) and self-determination theory (SDT), the study examines how proactive personality (PP), a stable tendency to initiate change, and organization-based self-esteem (OBSE), employees’ context-specific sense of value and competence, function as protective psychological resources. Specifically, these resources mitigate the negative impact of NWG on employee creativity by helping preserve employees’ intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach A three-wave, multi-source design surveyed 350 healthcare employees and their supervisors in Egyptian hospitals. NWG and PP were measured at Time 1, OBSE at Time 2 and supervisor-rated creativity at Time 3 to minimize common method bias. Findings NWG significantly reduces employee creativity through lower OBSE, employees’ context-specific sense of value and competence. Moderated mediation analysis further shows that a high PP, a stable tendency to initiate change, weakens this indirect effect. Practically, employees with stronger proactive traits are better able to maintain their sense of self-worth and sustain creativity despite negative interpersonal dynamics in the workplace. Originality/value This research provides rare empirical evidence from a non-Western healthcare context. It extends SCT and SDT by demonstrating that employee creativity in healthcare settings is significantly influenced by workplace social dynamics. The study offers actionable insights for administrators to foster resilient environments by systematically developing proactive capacities and reinforcing employees’ OBSE to sustain innovation amidst interpersonal challenges, thereby enhancing organizational effectiveness and patient care quality.