The dark side of work-family benefits: how unfairness in benefits creates negative workplace gossip between single and parental employees

Purpose This study investigates whether perceived unfairness in work-family benefits (WFB) leads to malicious envy among single employees toward parental employees, thereby stimulating negative gossip. It also examines the moderating roles of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with 391 single employees in the tourism industry. Regression equation testing was employed to examine the moderated mediation model. Findings Perceived unfairness in WFB increases negative gossip via the mediating effect of malicious envy. Furthermore, reappraisal was found to buffer the relationship between perceived unfairness in WFB and malicious envy, whereas suppression exacerbated both malicious envy and negative workplace gossip. Practical implications The findings provide actionable insights for managers to cultivate fairness and inclusivity in the workplace and to design effective strategies for addressing malicious envy and negative workplace gossip, thereby enhancing organizational harmony and employee relations. Originality/value This study shifts WFB research from the provider's perspective to the recipient's perspective and exposes familial bias in policy design.