In our social media age, envy is something that we’re all probably capable of. Research from Cambridge Judge Business School reminds us that it’s also a factor in the workplace. Indeed, the research suggests that envy can be so pernicious that it can prompt us to resign and find work elsewhere.
The study finds that when we strive for cooperation in the workplace, envy is strongly linked with absenteeism and even a greater likelihood of leaving our job. This contrasts markedly with those of us with a more achievement-orientation, for whom envy has the opposite effect. The study highlights the lengths we will go to to escape envy via so-called “avoidance behaviors”.
“In organizational life, avoidance behaviors include skipping work; this initial, temporary withdrawal often deteriorates such that avoidance eventually takes the form of turnover, with employees permanently leaving their place of employment,” the researchers explain. “These actions do not involve reducing the gap between the self and envied others, but rather entail escaping from the triggers of envy (ie one’s colleagues and place of work) altogether.”
An uneven response
The results illustrate that managers need to think about any attempts they might be making to engender social comparison between employees, such as via “employee of the month” awards. Doing so may trigger envy, which while motivating for some employees, maybe a tremendous turn-off for others.
“These findings hold implications for the shifting social dynamics of the workplace in the aftermath of the pandemic,” the researchers explain. “If collaboration becomes more important, then triggers of envy risk driving those employees away that are best suited for co-operative endeavors – those striving for communion at work.”
The results emerged after analyzing the workforce in an Indonesian supermarket, which attempts to provide a competitive environment for employees, across 147 different teams in 23 stores, each of whom was asked to complete a survey. The researchers also gathered data on absenteeism and voluntary turnover from the HR department.
The researchers believe their work sheds a new perspective on previous studies into envy, while also highlighting the lengths we will go to to avoid feeling it.
“Our study suggests that envy is a ‘green-eyed monster’ for communion strivers in the workplace, who respond to envy with more absenteeism and ultimately turnover,” the authors conclude. “The monster seems less banishing for those who seek to excel at work, as our findings suggest that achievement strivers are less likely to enact avoidance behaviors when they experience envy. In contrast, status striving does not moderate the relationship between envy and avoidance behaviors.”
