Workplace Incivility and Knowledge Hiding: The Mediating Role of Work Stress

Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of work stress in the relationship between workplace incivility and knowledge hiding within the context of manufacturing organizations. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we hypothesize that work stress, arising from stressful work environments, mediates the effect of incivility on employees’ propensity to hide knowledge. Data collected from a cross-sectional survey that was specifically created for this research is used as the basis for the analysis by the author. The authors surveyed 288 employees of the manufacturing industry in KPK. They voluntarily participated in the research by responding to a questionnaire. SPSS 26.0 statistical package and the Hayes PROCESS MACRO for mediation analysis were used to examine the data. The results show that workplace incivility has a significant effect on knowledge hiding.  While work stress mediates the relationship of workplace incivility and knowledge hiding. This study contributes to organizational behavior literature by unraveling the psychological pathway through which incivility fosters knowledge hiding, particularly in high-stress industrial settings. Practical implications include the need for organizations to address workplace incivility through anti-bullying policies, stress management programs, and fostering a culture of psychological safety to mitigate knowledge-hiding tendencies.