Predicting generation Z co-worker incivility from the lens of the dark triad: do gender differences matter?

Abstract

Extant literature confirms that uncivil employee behaviours lead to counterproductive working environments. This study examines whether the dark triad is associated with co-worker incivility among the Generation Z food service employees. Further, we also examine if there are significant gender differences on the effects of machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy on uncivil behaviours. Person-administered questionnaires were delivered in fast-food restaurants (SMEs) in three Zimbabwean cities. The study obtained 315 valid responses that were used to estimate model parameters in AMOS. The results show that machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy were all positively and significantly associated with co-worker incivility. Using multi-group analysis, the effects of machiavellianism and psychopathy on co-worker incivility were stronger in males than female employees while narcissism confirmed to have stronger effects on female than male employees. Although these traits exist in all humans by varying degrees, this study recommends that service providers should adopt personality assessments to enhance service quality. This paper also demonstrates that understanding the psycho-social traits of employees can be a strong impetus for nurturing a harmonious workplace. Moreover, managers of high contact services could leverage gender-responsive work design, on-boarding and training programmes to counter-manage incidences of potentially gender-skewed behavioural dispositions such as co-worker incivility.