Breaking the Bond: Abusive Supervision and Workplace Mistreatment As Predictors of Anti-Work Attitudes and Turnover Intentions

Purpose In recent years, negative attitudes toward work have been spreading in online communities, yet research on the factors that shape these attitudes is scarce. One way in which negative attitudes toward work manifest is through anti-work orientation, a contentious rejection of work as a determinant of one’s self-worth or worth to society. This study examined whether perceptions of abusive supervision and workplace mistreatment (bullying, cyberaggression, sexual harassment, physical violence, and threats of physical violence) predict anti-work orientation and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach A preregistered survey study was conducted with a stratified sample of Swedish employees (N = 2,395). Findings In line with our expectations, abusive supervision and workplace mistreatment predicted both anti-work orientation and turnover intentions. Mediation analyses further demonstrated that anti-work orientation partially mediated the effects of mistreatment and abusive supervision on turnover intentions. Originality/value This study is among the first to empirically examine the organizational antecedents of anti-work orientation – an emerging construct with growing societal relevance. The findings suggest that anti-work sentiments may emerge as a psychological response to interpersonal workplace mistreatment and that they may fuel increased intentions to resign.