The role of informal relationships in the workplace following the COVID-19 pandemic

: the implications on gossip and helping behaviour

Abstract

The ability to sustain organizational success is highly dependent on the understanding of workplace dynamics and its effects on employees. With the introduction of COVID-19, previous knowledge that focuses on interpersonal relationships, their influence on behaviour and its consequences on job performance should be revised to include all the additional impacts following the pandemic. This dissertation aims to identify how informal relationships can generate gossip, even while employees work remotely, and the eventual impact that this relationship can have on helping behaviour insidean organization. The results found highlight a direct correlation between the existence of informal relationships and the level of gossip, negative or positive, that occurs between employees. Moreover, remote work was found to have no relevant effects on gossip, however, small positive impacts were discovered on informal relationships and helping behaviour. Additionally, gossip was also identified as a relevant factor in the levels of helping behaviour for employees in an organization. As a consequence of this study, a link between informal relationships and helping behaviour of employees can be acknowledged to exist. This should demonstrate the necessity and importance, for those in management, to emphasize the social component in their workplace, as it will eventually benefit the working environment and the support between those employed.

Date of Award	24 Jan 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Jingxian Yao (Supervisor)