HAVE YOU SIGNED IT IN BLOOD!? THE FAUST SYNDROME AS A NEW CONCEPT FOR UNDERSTANDING TOXIC WORK RELATIONS, EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH

The main objectives of this research are to promote a new conceptual framework for understanding toxic work environments, called the Faust Syndrome (FS), to build a questionnaire for assessment of its manifestations at work, and to explore the potential effects of FS occurrence on employees’ work performance and their psychophysical health. After the analysis of the Faust Syndrome Questionnaire (FSQ) psychometric properties (Study 1; N1 = 331), FSQ was utilised to explore the frequency of FS in private and public organisations in Serbia, to examine the significance of demographics for the perception of FS (Study 2; N2 = 560), and to investigate relationships of FS frequency at work and indicators of employees’ work performance and health (Study 3; N1+N2 = 891). The results reveal a sound five-factor latent structure (referred to as Loyalty to the patron, Subversive organisational behaviour, Manipulation of the decision-making process, Intimidation and exclusion (Ostracism), and Negative attitudes towards colleagues). The results have also shown satisfactory internal consistency (α = .94), homogeneity (MIC= .43), factorial invariance of the FSQ -2 measurement model, and meaningful associations of five FS facets with diminished contextual work performance, and with more symptoms of fear and anxiety, fatigue, and physical health disorders. Based on these findings we conclude that the Faust Syndrome represents a fruitful concept for understanding how clientelism introduced into work relationships might negatively affect employees’ work performance and their psychophysical health.