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Exploring the Impact of Job Insecurity on Employees’ Unethical Behavior

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  • Lawrence, Ericka R.
  • Kacmar, K. Michele

Abstract

The multitude of corporate scandals has prompted research that examines factors that influence an individual’s engagement in unethical behavior. This article extends previous research by examining the psychological processes through which unethical behavior may occur. We develop and test a model that uses self-regulation theory to explain and predict how and under what circumstances individuals are likely to engage in unethical behavior. Results from data collected from 107 professionals at two points in time and 205 employees from various industries confirm that job insecurity increases emotional exhaustion, which subsequently impairs an employee’s ability to activate self-regulating processes to avoid engaging in unethical behavior. However, the link between job insecurity and emotional exhaustion as well as the mediated relationship between job insecurity and unethical behavior through emotional exhaustion are weaker for employees who have high adaptability and stronger for employees who are highly embedded in their organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence, Ericka R. & Kacmar, K. Michele, 2017. "Exploring the Impact of Job Insecurity on Employees’ Unethical Behavior," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 39-70, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:27:y:2017:i:01:p:39-70_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Marwa Ghanem & Alaa M. S. Azazz, 2022. "An Unethical Organizational Behavior for the Sake of the Family: Perceived Risk of Job Insecurity, Family Motivation and Financial Pressures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Madhurima Mishra & Koustab Ghosh & Dheeraj Sharma, 2022. "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 63-87, August.
    3. Xie, Junyi & Ifie, Kemefasu & Gruber, Thorsten, 2022. "The dual threat of COVID-19 to health and job security – Exploring the role of mindfulness in sustaining frontline employee-related outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 216-227.
    4. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Alaa M. S. Azazz & Samar K. Saad, 2022. "Unethical Organization Behavior: Antecedents and Consequences in the Tourism Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Lin Xu & Jigan Wang, 2020. "Influence of Challenge–Hindrance Stressors on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: Mediating Role of Emotions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Chan, Christopher & Ananthram, Subramaniam & Thaker, Keyur & Liu, Yi, 2022. "Do religiosity and ethical principles influence ethical decision-making in a multi-faith context? Evidence from India," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 772-785.
    7. Salar Mesdaghinia & Anushri Rawat & Shiva Nadavulakere, 2019. "Why Moral Followers Quit: Examining the Role of Leader Bottom-Line Mentality and Unethical Pro-Leader Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 491-505, October.
    8. Zhu Yao & Jinlian Luo & Na Fu & Xianchun Zhang & Qunchao Wan, 2022. "Rational Counterattack: The Impact of Workplace Bullying on Unethical Pro-organizational and Pro-family Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(3), pages 661-682, December.
    9. Xue Zhang & Liang Liang & Guyang Tian & Yezhuang Tian, 2020. "Heroes or Villains? The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Jasper Brinkerink, 2023. "When Shooting for the Stars Becomes Aiming for Asterisks: P-Hacking in Family Business Research," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(2), pages 304-343, March.
    11. Tomasz Gigol, 2020. "Gender Differences in Engagement in Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior—Two Studies in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Banjo Ally HASSAN & Hassanat Adunni HASSAN & Adebiyi Julius ABOSEDE & Olufemi Adewale OGUNKOYA, 2019. "Centralization And Business Ethics In Nigeria Deposit Money Banks," Management and Marketing Journal, University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 0(2), pages 24-34, November.
    13. Murad Ali & Imran Ali & Gema Albort-Morant & Antonio Luis Leal-Rodríguez, 2021. "How do job insecurity and perceived well-being affect expatriate employees’ willingness to share or hide knowledge?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 185-210, March.
    14. Lifang Shu & Haiying Wei & Leiqing Peng, 2019. "Making the Customer Orientation of Salespeople Unsustainable—The Moderating Effect of Emotional Exhaustion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Kangmin Lee, 2020. "The Effect of Supervisor Identification on Unethical Pro-Supervisor Behavior: The Moderating Role of Employability Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    16. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Alaa M. S. Azazz, 2021. "Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Unethical Behavior in the Name of the Company: The Role of Job Insecurity, Job Embeddedness, and Turnover Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Cheng, Ken & Wei, Feng & Lin, Yinghui, 2019. "The trickle-down effect of responsible leadership on unethical pro-organizational behavior: The moderating role of leader-follower value congruence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 34-43.

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