Linking online voice to workplace cyberbullying: roles of job strain and moral efficacy

Purpose With the spread of information communication technologies (ICTs) at work, online voice has become an emerging form of employee voice. Online voice is a double-edged behavior for organizations and employees. The purpose of this paper is to examine a model in which online voice is positively correlated with workplace cyberbullying and to examine the moderating role of chronic job strain and moral efficacy on that correlation. Design/methodology/approach A total of 760 cases from 152 full-time Chinese workers in public sector employment were collected through the experience sampling method. Findings The results showed that online voice is positively correlated with workplace cyberbullying on a daily basis. Chronic job strain amplifies this relationship, while moral efficacy buffers it. Furthermore, the amplifying effect of chronic job strain is mediated by a lack of moral efficacy. Originality/value This research has implications for understanding the boundary conditions of the relationship between online voice and workplace cyberbullying.