Talking About the Boss
研究提出并检验了关于管理者正面和负面八卦的关系理论，发现员工对管理者的信任度低、关系不友好、接触少时，负面八卦增多，且员工间信任和频繁接触会强化这一效应。
This study developed and tested a relational theory of positive and negative gossip about managers. It is argued that spreading information about managers depends on trust in organizations, more specifically the employees’ generalized and interpersonal trust in managers and colleagues. Hypotheses were tested by conducting two studies in a medium-sized Dutch child care organization, namely, an employee survey ( N = 132) and a network study at two sites ( N = 58). Multiple regressions and cross-sectional social network analysis (exponential random graph modeling [ERGM]) revealed that negative gossip about managers increases when employees have low trust, nonfriendly relationships, and infrequent contact with the managers. This effect is further enhanced when contacts between employees are trusting and frequent. Implications for theories about management and organizations are discussed.