The effect of perceived rudeness from coworkers on deviant task behavior among logistics company employees: the mediating effect of job stress and the moderating effect of perceived organizational sup

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of perceived coworker incivility on deviant task behavior among logistics industry employees. It further explores the mediating role of job stress and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) in these relationships. Research design, data, methodology: The study collected data from 264 logistics company employees using structured questionnaires. A total of 300 surveys were distributed, with 264 valid responses retained for analysis. Hierarchical regression analysis and Baron and Kenny's (1986) mediation procedure were used to test the proposed hypotheses. Results: The findings confirmed that coworker incivility significantly increases both job stress and deviant task behavior. Job stress was also found to mediate the relationship between incivility and deviant behavior. Furthermore, perceived organizational support significantly moderated the effect of incivility on job stress, such that higher perceived support weakened the impact of incivility on stress. Conclusions: This study highlights the psychological and behavioral costs of coworker incivility in logistics workplaces. It also demonstrates that perceived organizational support can serve as a protective resource against stress and deviant behavior. The findings suggest that organizations should implement strategies that promote respectful coworker interactions and cultivate a supportive organizational climate.