Abstract:
The workplace has become a major problem in the current apparel industry. This research investigates
the impact of workplace bullying on job attitudes, namely workplace deviance, organizational citizenship
behavior, and turnover intention, within the apparel industry in Sri Lanka, moderated by laissez-faire leadership.
In this quantitative, cross-sectional study, data from 140 machine operators were collected using a structured
questionnaire and analyzed with the use of SPSS. The results showed significant relationships where workplace
bullying positively influenced workplace deviance and turnover intention, while negatively affecting Organization
citizenship behavior. Laissez-faire leadership magnified these effects and pointed out the harmful contribution of
passive leadership in conditions where bullying is present. This study therefore calls for proactive anti-bullying
policies, leadership development, and workplace training to realize respectful and supportive work cultures.
Limitations include reliance on self-report data and a single measure of leadership style, but this study provides
actionable findings for policy makers and HR professionals. Future research should investigate other leadership
styles, other mediating factors, and contexts from different industries to better understand the dynamics of
workplace bullying and job attitudes.
