Ripples of emotion in organisational politics: a stimulus–organism–response framework linking organisational politics, emotional contagion, and career ambition

Purpose This study extends the stimulus–organism–response framework to organisational politics by examining emotional contagion as a key mechanism linking political workplace conditions to career ambition, with co-worker envy as a relational boundary condition. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used. Hermeneutic phenomenological interviews with 24 professionals informed construct refinement, followed by a survey of 425 employees in Indian knowledge-sector organisations. Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings Perceived organisational politics and voice suppression significantly predicted emotional contagion, which positively influenced career ambition. Supervisor political behaviour showed no significant effect. Co-worker envy weakened the positive relationship between emotional contagion and career ambition. Practical implications The findings highlight the importance of transparent decision-making, psychological safety and managing envy-driven rivalry to sustain motivation and well-being in politically complex workplaces. Originality/value The study positions emotional contagion at the centre of organisational politics, reconceptualises career ambition as context-sensitive and identifies envy as a relational boundary condition shaping motivational outcomes.