Customer incivility as an identity threat for frontline employees: The mitigating role of organizational rewards

Authors: Boukis, A., Koritos, C., Papastathopoulos, A. and Buhalis, D.

Journal: Annals of Tourism Research

Volume: 100

ISSN: 0160-7383

DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2023.103555

Abstract:

This work proposes identity theory as a novel theoretical lens for understanding frontline employees' responses to customer incivility in tourism and hospitality. We advance pertinent research by demonstrating that customer incivility constitutes a dual identity threat (individual/collective threat) for frontline employees. Two experimental studies reveal that: customer incivility towards frontline employees' individual identity affects their psychological responses more adversely than their citizenship behavior; non-monetary rewards are more effective at reducing the adverse effects of customer incivility on frontline employees' psychological responses (than monetary rewards); finally, allowing frontline employees to choose the reward they deem most appropriate enhances both their psychological responses and citizenship behavior. Based on these results a four-step process is proposed to help managers dealing with customer incivility.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38683/

Source: Scopus

Customer incivility as an identity threat for frontline employees: The mitigating role of organizational rewards*

Authors: Boukis, A., Koritos, C., Papastathopoulos, A. and Buhalis, D.

Journal: ANNALS OF TOURISM RESEARCH

Volume: 100

eISSN: 1873-7722

ISSN: 0160-7383

DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2023.103555

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38683/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Customer incivility as an identity threat for frontline employees: The mitigating role of organizational rewards

Authors: Boukis, A., Koritos, C., Papastathopoulos, A. and Buhalis, D.

Journal: Annals of Tourism Research

Volume: 100

ISSN: 0160-7383

Abstract:

This work proposes identity theory as a novel theoretical lens for understanding frontline employees' responses to customer incivility in tourism and hospitality. We advance pertinent research by demonstrating that customer incivility constitutes a dual identity threat (individual/collective threat) for frontline employees. Two experimental studies reveal that: customer incivility towards frontline employees' individual identity affects their psychological responses more adversely than their citizenship behavior; non-monetary rewards are more effective at reducing the adverse effects of customer incivility on frontline employees' psychological responses (than monetary rewards); finally, allowing frontline employees to choose the reward they deem most appropriate enhances both their psychological responses and citizenship behavior. Based on these results a four-step process is proposed to help managers dealing with customer incivility.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38683/

Source: BURO EPrints