Work

Vanishing Acts: Unraveling the Mystery of Ghosting in Remote Work

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aims to shed light on an emerging organizational phenomenon in digitally mediated and multilocational workplaces—that is, workplace ghosting, defined as the abrupt termination of communication without warning or explanation. Drawing on frameworks from workplace incivility and job crafting, this study explores the mechanisms and contextual factors that enable and sustain ghosting behaviors in modern organizational settings. We interviewed 55 knowledge workers and employed a grounded theory approach to study remote workers’ perceptions of workplace ghosting behavior. This study proposes a typology of four types of workplace ghosting behavior: scheduling , disorganized , avoidance , and irritated behavior. We suggest that workplace ghosting behavior is task- or relationship-oriented but also highlight that this behavior emerges in planned and unplanned ways. Our study shows that ghosting challenges traditional norms of reciprocity as ghosting may benefit the ghoster but adversely affect the ghosted . Our findings expand our understanding of workplace ghosting beyond incivility and open new avenues for theorizing about social dysconnectivity in multilocational work. Specifically, the workplace ghosting typology provides an understanding of different types of ghosting behavior that vary in level of intent and focus.

Source: International Journal of Business Communication

DOI: 10.1177/23294884251342524

Authors: Jenni Kantola, Ward van Zoonen

Institution: University of Jyväskylä

Language: English

Topic: Workplace Violence and Bullying

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650