ABSTRACT

Why do some employees become outcasts and others “incasts” or important members of the social network? What are the consequences of being ostracized? And what can practitioners do to prevent the destructive processes of isolation and ostracism? These questions guide this chapter. First, I discuss the notion of informal organizational social networks and cliques. I then explore the various factors that influence one’s social status at work. In the final section, I describe the consequences of social ostracism for both the target employee and the larger organization and provide suggestions designed for both intervention and prevention.