How to ward off the threat of workplace ostracism? The merit of self-compassion

Need-threat is the central mechanism underlying the deleterious effects of workplace ostracism. The literature acknowledges that employees respond to the thwarted needs differently. However, there is little insight into individual differences in the front end of the process — perceiving workplace ostracism as a need-threat. The present study examined self-compassion, an individual difference variable, as a buffer to the effect of workplace ostracism on appraisal of need-threat. We found that employees high in self-compassion appraised workplace ostracism as less of a threat to their psychological needs. Additionally, we also found that self-compassion also affected the coping/reaction stage following need-threat appraisal by buffering the effect of need-threat appraisal on employee work proactivity and psychological strain. Two independent studies produced convergent findings. In conclusion, we found evidence that self-compassion is a psychological strength that helps employees ward off the threat of workplace ostracism. •We explicitly assessed employee appraisal of need-threat in relation to workplace ostracism.•Self-compassion buffered the effect of workplace ostracism on appraisal of need-threat.•Self-compassion also buffered the effect of appraisal of need-threat on both work proactivity and psychological strain.•Self-compassion is a valuable resource enabling employees to ward off the threat of workplace ostracism.