Abstract:
The study aimed to explore how Filipino values influence responses to perceptions of co-worker
loafing in cognitive work groups. The study also aimed to identify the indicators of co-worker
loafing perceptions, individual motivations to go about the task in spite of co-worker loafing
perceptions and characteristics of individual’s change in behavior when loafing perceptions exist.
To measure the employees’ degree of co-worker loafing, 25 online survey questionnaires were
sent out to the employees of Company X. Only respondents who scored in the extremes were
considered in the study. In-depth and semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with
seven employees of Company X wherein the data gathered from the interviews were analyzed
through a thematic analysis under the Expectancy Violations Framework. It was found in the
study that regardless of the degree of perceptions of co-worker loafing, the respondents had the
same expectancies that members of the team will deliver as a result of their commitment to the
client and the company. It was also found that perceptions of co-worker loafing was
contextualized in the study in the form of individuals perceptions that some members are
contributing substandard ideas, are consciously killing teammates idea suggestions and are
passively accepting ideas of other members of the team. Moreover, individuals are motivated to
continue with the task in spite of their perceptions as they give value to the collective reward of
maintaining the company’s good image and individual reward of having their work recognized.
Responses under behavioral change comprise of actions to show initiative in finishing the task,
to avoid conflict and to encourage co-workers to contribute to the task. Responses under
communicative behavior, on the other hand, were found to be characterized by the direct and
indirect approach that are aimed to help out, to reorient, to encourage and to empathize with their
co-workers whom they perceive are engaging in loafing behaviors.
