Countering Exclusion at Work: How Passion and Embeddedness Sustain Innovation in Organizations

Workplace exclusion poses a growing challenge to organizational innovation and employee well-being. This study investigates how workplace ostracism (WOS) affects employee innovative behaviour (EIB), while highlighting the protective roles of passion for work (PFW) and job embeddedness (JEM). Drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, we conceptualize PFW as a critical emotional resource that mediates the negative effects of ostracism, and JEM as a structural buffer that moderates these dynamics. Using data from 377 employees in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector and employing SPSS PROCESS models 4 and 7, we find that WOS significantly reduces EIB. However, this effect is attenuated when employees possess high PFW, and further moderated by JEM, which helps preserve PFW even under exclusionary conditions. Our findings offer theoretical insights into the psychosocial mechanisms underpinning innovation and extend the COR framework by integrating both emotional and structural job resources. From a practical standpoint, this study underscores the need for inclusive organizational cultures that foster emotional engagement and strengthen employee ties to their roles. By cultivating passion and embeddedness, organizations can counteract the detrimental effects of social exclusion and sustain innovation even in challenging work environments. This research contributes to broader discussions on social inclusion, resilience, and creativity in contemporary organizational life.