New research from Rutgers University highlights the impact of workplace dynamics on employee performance. The study, led by Cong Liu of the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, reveals that teams with high levels of envy often ostracize their top performers, which can lead to decreased productivity.
“In organizations, there are good soldiers who help facilitate workplace efficiency and effectiveness and bad apples who hinder productivity and well-being,” Cong wrote. “Over the years, there has been mounting evidence that this distinction between good and bad behaviors … might not be as stark as we think.”
The research involved surveying 630 workers across various industries in China. Participants worked in teams of three or more, with most having been employed for about six years. Although conducted in China, the findings are relevant globally, particularly in team-oriented environments like those in the United States.
“If proactive employees are ostracized by their coworkers, organizations will bear a heavy toll,” Cong said.
The study used two surveys administered a month apart to assess levels of proactivity, envy, coworker ostracism, negative emotions, job satisfaction, and production deviance. Results showed that teams with higher envy rates were more likely to exclude proactive employees, leading to increased underperformance among those excluded.
Cong emphasized the importance of addressing these issues in workplaces where collaboration is crucial. Poorly managed team dynamics can result in significant productivity losses.
“Take sales,” Cong said. “If one team member beats the sales quota, the entire team benefits but underperforming colleagues might still be viewed by management as less effective.”
To mitigate these dynamics, Cong suggests that employers should evaluate employees based on individual merits rather than comparisons with top performers.
“Managers should always encourage proactive behaviors but should also ensure that performance evaluations are based on required outputs rather than comparing employees to top performers,” Cong said. “It’s essential to treat each team member as an individual.”
She concluded: “In today’s workplace, where collaboration and innovation drive success, creating an inclusive and supportive environment isn’t just effective management – it’s a strategic advantage for any business.”
