Envy in the Workplace: A Systematic Review of the Past Five Years

Abstract

In recent years, interest in studying envy at work has grown. Based on a previous review on envy and jealousy at work, the objective of this paper is to review and systematize the knowledge about this topic provided by empirical research in the past five years. After the search in scientific databases, establishing exclusion and inclusion criteria and literature coding, 32 papers were selected. The results show researchers’ growing interest in studying benign envy and its consequences and exploring new variables to explain envy in the workplace. Social comparison theory and cognitive appraisal theory are the two main theoretical frameworks used in the studies reviewed. The role of the leader is essential in envy’s appearance, and envy is usually related to dysfunctional results. This study provides researchers with a basis for designing future studies and creating intervention strategies to mitigate envy at work.

Keywords

• workplace
• envy
• systematic review