The Relationship Between Negative Workplace Gossip and Job Satisfaction: A Study on the Mediating Role of Servant Leadership at IT&B Campus Medan
Keywords:
Negative workplace gossip, job satisfaction, servant leadership
Abstract
This study examines the impact of negative workplace gossip on job satisfaction among lecturers, focusing on the role of servant leadership as a mediating factor. The research was conducted at IT&B Campus Medan, with academic lecturers as respondents. Data was collected through both online and offline surveys. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to evaluate the relationships among variables. The results indicate that negative workplace gossip negatively impacts job satisfaction, which can be minimized through servant leadership. Servant leadership was found to play a significant mediating role, improving interpersonal relationships and creating a supportive work environment, thereby enhancing job satisfaction. This study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the mediating role of servant leadership in reducing the negative effects of gossip in academic settings, thereby enhancing our understanding of leadership dynamics in higher education institutions.
References
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Khalid, J., Weng, Q. D., Ghani, U., Usman, M., Asim, M., & Batool, M. (2025). Supervisor negative gossip and target’s helping behavior: the role of emotional exhaustion and Islamic work ethics. Baltic Journal of Management, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-05-2024-0234
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Kumar P, A., & Vilvanathan, L. (2024). When talk matters: the role of negative supervisor gossip and employee agreeableness in feedback seeking and job performance. Management Research Review, 47(10), 27–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-10-2023-0782
Kyambade, M., Mugambwa, J., Nkurunziza, G., Namuddu, R., & Namatovu, A. (2023). Servant leadership style and socially responsible leadership in Campus context: moderation of promoting sense of community. International Journal of Educational Management, 38(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-12-2023-0629
Li, P., Huang, Z., Wang, R., & Wang, S. (2023). How does perceived negative workplace gossip influence employee knowledge sharing behavior? An explanation from the perspective of social information processing. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 113(August), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2023.103518
Lubis, F. R. A., Syaifuddin, Sofiyan, Lubis, Y., & Nasib. (2023). Impact of Improving Organizational Climate , Employee Empowerment on Employee Engagement and Performance. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 13(2), 273–284. https://doi.org/10.33168/JSMS.2023.0219
Lubis, Y., Ananda, F. R., Syaifuddin, Sofiyan, & Nasib. (2024). The Impact of Volunteerism and Emotional Regulation Traits on Job Satisfaction and Performance an Indonesian Agribusiness Corporation. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 14(11), 431–448. https://doi.org/10.33168/jsms.2024.1123
Lubis, Y., Lubis, F. R. A., Syaifuddin, S., & Nasib, N. (2023). The Role of Motivation in Moderating the Impact of Emotional Intelligence, Work-Life Balance, Leadership, and Work Ethic on Employee Performance. Society, 11(2), 665–686. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v11i2.588
Nasib. (2020). Leadership Role Iin The Commitment And Performance of Employees InThe Regional Company Of Medan. International Journal For Innovativate In Multidisciplinary Field, 6(8), 58–63.
Nasib, Azhmy, M. F., Nabella, S. D., Rusiadi, & Fadli, A. (2022). Survive amidst the Competition of Private Universities by Maximizing Brand Image and Interest in Studying. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(3), 3317–3328. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i3.2037
Nasution, M. I., Syahlina, M., Hou, A., Tambunan, D., & Chaniago, S. (2023). The Influence Of Communication And Organizational Culture On Job Satisfaction At PT. Mitra Agung. International Journal of Accounting, Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 1(3), 186–197.
Nazah, K., Chaniago, S., Ginting, B. B., Martin, & Hou, A. (2021). Optimizing Job Satisfaction in Mediating Motivation on Lecturer Performance. International Journal of Business Economics (IJBE), 3(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.30596/ijbe.v3i1.7896
Rasheed, R. (2023). Quantifying the Moderating Effect of Servant Leadership between Occupational Stress and Employee In-Role and Extra-Role Performance. Quality - Access to Success, 24(195), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.195.08
Satrianny, I. P., Thamrin, Nasib, Harianto, A., & Novirsari, E. (2025). The Effect of Employee Morale and Organizational Familiarity on Innovative Work Behavior through Employee Engagement. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 13(2), 1093
Sipayung, T., Sihombing, R., Hou, A., Fadli, A., & Martin. (2023). The Influence of Leadership and Work Ethic on Employee Motivation at PT . Suryaindah Wiraperkasa Palembang. ProBisnis : Jurnal Manajemen, 14(2), 259–266.
Song, X., & Guo, S. (2022). The Impact of Negative Workplace Gossip on Employees’ Organizational Self-Esteem in a Differential Atmosphere. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(June), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.854520
Syaifuddin, Efendi, B., Novirsari, E., Lubis, Y., & Nasib. (2023). Organizational Justice and Corporate Social Responsibility on Employee Performance : The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 10(3), 151–165. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2023.0312
Syaifuddin, F., Rezeki, F., & Lubis, A. (2024). Drivers of Turnover Intentions and Vulnerability to Employee Poaching : A Study of Permanent Lecturers in Indonesian Private Universities. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 11(12), 90–115. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2024.1205
Syaifuddin, Lie, D., Lubis, F. R. A., Novirsari, E., & Nasib. (2024). The role of job satisfaction in mediating the relationship between family conflict, volunteer management, and employee performance at PT. Perkebunan Nusantara 3. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(12), 180–191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.12.020
Tambunan, A. F. A. H. R. J. D. (2020). The Effect of Self-Confidence Moderation on the Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Employee Work Stress at PT . Orange Indonesia Mandiri Medan. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal, 3(4), 2851–2856.
Wang, D., Niu, Z., Sun, C., Yu, P., Wang, X., Xue, Q., & Hu, Y. (2022). The relationship between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction: The mediating role of job insecurity and organizational identity. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(November),
Wijaya, E., & Chaniago, S. (2025). Enhancing Job Satisfaction in Higher Education : The Role of Cultural Openness , Servant Leadership , and Burnout. Society, 13(1), 169–191. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v13i1.793
Zafar, H., Cheah, J. H., Ho, J. A., Suseno, Y., & Tian, F. (2025a). How green servant leadership influences organizational green performance? The roles of employee green creativity, voluntary pro-environmental behavior and green psychological climate. Personnel Review, 54(4), 10–12.
Zafar, H., Cheah, J. H., Ho, J. A., Suseno, Y., & Tian, F. (2025b). How green servant leadership influences organizational green performance? The roles of employee green creativity, voluntary pro-environmental behavior and green psychological climate. Personnel Review, 1(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-10-2023-0843
Zhu, Q., Martinescu, E., & Wei, F. (2025). The double-edged sword of negative supervisor gossip: When and why negative supervisor gossip promotes versus inhibits feedback seeking behavior among gossip targets. Sage Journals, 77(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726723116585
Agus Susanto, Kosasih, H., Linda, T., Satrianny, I. P., & Thamrin. (2022). The Influence Of The Work Environment And Individual Characteristics On Employees’ Job Satisfaction. Jurnal Ilmiah Hospitality, 11(2), 53–54.
Alahbabi. (2023). A Framework of Servant Leadership Impact on Job Performance: The Mediation Role of Employee Happiness in UAE Healthcare Sector. Quality - Access to Success, 24(194), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.194.08
Bhastary, M. D., Hou, A., & Goh, T. S. (2024). The Role of Employee Green Behaviors in Green Teacher Performance in the Madrasah Environment in Medan City with an Organizational Ambidexterity and Green Self-Efficacy Approach. Society, 12(2), 696–713. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v12i2.729
Cheng, B., Zhang, Z., & Peng, Y. (2024). Linking negative workplace gossip to deviant workplace behavior: A social cognitive perspective. Current Psychology, 43(7), 6613–6626. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04854-0
Cheng, S., Wang, Y., & Kuo, C. C. (2025). The impact of perceived negative supervisor gossip on employee emotional exhaustion: a moderated mediation model of impression management and task interdependence. Frontiers in Public Health, 13(April), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1575259
Dai, Y., Zhuo, X., Hou, J., & Lyu, B. (2022). Is not workplace gossip bad? The effect of positive workplace gossip on employee innovative behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(November), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1017202
Elsaied, M. (2025). How and when does servant leadership promotes followers’ creative performance? EuroMed Journal of Business, 1(1), 5–6. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-06-2024-0150
Fadli, A. (2024). The Influence of Safety Leadership and Work Engagement on Job Satisfaction ( Case Study at Campus of Mahkota Tricom Unggul ). Journal of Business Integration and Competitive (JoBIC), 1(1), 21–30.
Faris, S., Rezeki, F., & Lubis, A. (2024). Enhancing Public Sector Performance : Work Engagement as a Mediator between Organizational Justice , Support , and Employee Outcomes in Bireuen Regency , Indonesia. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 11(12), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2024.1201
Feng, B. (2025). Negative workplace gossip and turnover intention among kindergarten teachers : psychological safety as a mediator and organizational identification as a moderator. Frontier in Psychology, 1(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1588482
Gutnick, D., Walter, F., Nijstad, B. A., Dreu, C. K. W. De, & Walter, F. (2022). Spilling tea at the water cooler: A meta-analysis of the literature on workplace gossip. Organizational Psychology Review, 1(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386612447626
Harinto, A. (2024). The Influence of Workload on Lecturer Performance through Job Satisfaction at the IT & B Medan Campus. Journal of Business Integration and Competitive (JoBIC), 1(1), 1–9.
Khalid, J., Weng, Q. D., Ghani, U., Usman, M., Asim, M., & Batool, M. (2025). Supervisor negative gossip and target’s helping behavior: the role of emotional exhaustion and Islamic work ethics. Baltic Journal of Management, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-05-2024-0234
Kosasih, H. (2023). The Influence of Compensation Towards Employee Productivity at PT. Citra Jaya Nusantara Pekanbaru. International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 5(3), 328–331. https://doi.org/10.56338/ijhess.v5i3.3935
Kosasih, H., & Salqaura, S. A. (2024). Transforming Lecturer Performance : The Mediating Role of Servant Leadership in Enhancing Digital Competence and Psychological Well-Being. Society, 12(2), 814–834. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v12i2.739
Kosasih, H., Tarigan, S. A., Wijaya, E., & Susanto. (2022). The Role Of Employee Involvement Towards Corporate Performance At PT. Tata Graha Stabat Asri Stabat. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 7(2), 809–820.
Kumar P, A., & Vilvanathan, L. (2024). When talk matters: the role of negative supervisor gossip and employee agreeableness in feedback seeking and job performance. Management Research Review, 47(10), 27–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-10-2023-0782
Kyambade, M., Mugambwa, J., Nkurunziza, G., Namuddu, R., & Namatovu, A. (2023). Servant leadership style and socially responsible leadership in Campus context: moderation of promoting sense of community. International Journal of Educational Management, 38(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-12-2023-0629
Li, P., Huang, Z., Wang, R., & Wang, S. (2023). How does perceived negative workplace gossip influence employee knowledge sharing behavior? An explanation from the perspective of social information processing. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 113(August), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2023.103518
Lubis, F. R. A., Syaifuddin, Sofiyan, Lubis, Y., & Nasib. (2023). Impact of Improving Organizational Climate , Employee Empowerment on Employee Engagement and Performance. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 13(2), 273–284. https://doi.org/10.33168/JSMS.2023.0219
Lubis, Y., Ananda, F. R., Syaifuddin, Sofiyan, & Nasib. (2024). The Impact of Volunteerism and Emotional Regulation Traits on Job Satisfaction and Performance an Indonesian Agribusiness Corporation. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 14(11), 431–448. https://doi.org/10.33168/jsms.2024.1123
Lubis, Y., Lubis, F. R. A., Syaifuddin, S., & Nasib, N. (2023). The Role of Motivation in Moderating the Impact of Emotional Intelligence, Work-Life Balance, Leadership, and Work Ethic on Employee Performance. Society, 11(2), 665–686. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v11i2.588
Nasib. (2020). Leadership Role Iin The Commitment And Performance of Employees InThe Regional Company Of Medan. International Journal For Innovativate In Multidisciplinary Field, 6(8), 58–63.
Nasib, Azhmy, M. F., Nabella, S. D., Rusiadi, & Fadli, A. (2022). Survive amidst the Competition of Private Universities by Maximizing Brand Image and Interest in Studying. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(3), 3317–3328. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i3.2037
Nasution, M. I., Syahlina, M., Hou, A., Tambunan, D., & Chaniago, S. (2023). The Influence Of Communication And Organizational Culture On Job Satisfaction At PT. Mitra Agung. International Journal of Accounting, Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 1(3), 186–197.
Nazah, K., Chaniago, S., Ginting, B. B., Martin, & Hou, A. (2021). Optimizing Job Satisfaction in Mediating Motivation on Lecturer Performance. International Journal of Business Economics (IJBE), 3(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.30596/ijbe.v3i1.7896
Rasheed, R. (2023). Quantifying the Moderating Effect of Servant Leadership between Occupational Stress and Employee In-Role and Extra-Role Performance. Quality - Access to Success, 24(195), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.195.08
Satrianny, I. P., Thamrin, Nasib, Harianto, A., & Novirsari, E. (2025). The Effect of Employee Morale and Organizational Familiarity on Innovative Work Behavior through Employee Engagement. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 13(2), 1093
Sipayung, T., Sihombing, R., Hou, A., Fadli, A., & Martin. (2023). The Influence of Leadership and Work Ethic on Employee Motivation at PT . Suryaindah Wiraperkasa Palembang. ProBisnis : Jurnal Manajemen, 14(2), 259–266.
Song, X., & Guo, S. (2022). The Impact of Negative Workplace Gossip on Employees’ Organizational Self-Esteem in a Differential Atmosphere. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(June), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.854520
Syaifuddin, Efendi, B., Novirsari, E., Lubis, Y., & Nasib. (2023). Organizational Justice and Corporate Social Responsibility on Employee Performance : The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 10(3), 151–165. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2023.0312
Syaifuddin, F., Rezeki, F., & Lubis, A. (2024). Drivers of Turnover Intentions and Vulnerability to Employee Poaching : A Study of Permanent Lecturers in Indonesian Private Universities. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 11(12), 90–115. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2024.1205
Syaifuddin, Lie, D., Lubis, F. R. A., Novirsari, E., & Nasib. (2024). The role of job satisfaction in mediating the relationship between family conflict, volunteer management, and employee performance at PT. Perkebunan Nusantara 3. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(12), 180–191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.12.020
Tambunan, A. F. A. H. R. J. D. (2020). The Effect of Self-Confidence Moderation on the Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Employee Work Stress at PT . Orange Indonesia Mandiri Medan. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal, 3(4), 2851–2856.
Wang, D., Niu, Z., Sun, C., Yu, P., Wang, X., Xue, Q., & Hu, Y. (2022). The relationship between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction: The mediating role of job insecurity and organizational identity. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(November),
Wijaya, E., & Chaniago, S. (2025). Enhancing Job Satisfaction in Higher Education : The Role of Cultural Openness , Servant Leadership , and Burnout. Society, 13(1), 169–191. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v13i1.793
Zafar, H., Cheah, J. H., Ho, J. A., Suseno, Y., & Tian, F. (2025a). How green servant leadership influences organizational green performance? The roles of employee green creativity, voluntary pro-environmental behavior and green psychological climate. Personnel Review, 54(4), 10–12.
Zafar, H., Cheah, J. H., Ho, J. A., Suseno, Y., & Tian, F. (2025b). How green servant leadership influences organizational green performance? The roles of employee green creativity, voluntary pro-environmental behavior and green psychological climate. Personnel Review, 1(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-10-2023-0843
Zhu, Q., Martinescu, E., & Wei, F. (2025). The double-edged sword of negative supervisor gossip: When and why negative supervisor gossip promotes versus inhibits feedback seeking behavior among gossip targets. Sage Journals, 77(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726723116585
Published
2025-07-04
How to Cite
Hengky Kosasih. (2025). The Relationship Between Negative Workplace Gossip and Job Satisfaction: A Study on the Mediating Role of Servant Leadership at IT&B Campus Medan. International Journal of Economics, Business and Innovation Research, 4(04), 856-870. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijebir.v4i04.2023
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