This study examines the affective and behavioral implications of peers observing star employees receiving negative performance feedback. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theories of emotion, we propose that negative feedback directed at star employees evokes stronger feelings of pity compared to non-star employees, which in turn fosters increased interpersonal helping behaviors. Using a critical incident technique, we collected data from 212 full-time employees across two time periods. The results support the proposed mediating role of pity. These findings contribute to the literature on star employees by offering a novel affective perspective on feedback dynamics and advancing our understanding of how peer responses to performance feedback shape workplace interactions and outcomes.
