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The More You Care, the Worthier I Feel, the Better I Behave: How and When Supervisor Support Influences (Un)Ethical Employee Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Sguera

    (UCP, Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics)

  • Richard P. Bagozzi

    (University of Michigan)

  • Quy N. Huy

    (INSEAD)

  • R. Wayne Boss

    (University of Colorado at Boulder)

  • David S. Boss

    (Ohio College of Business)

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of perceived supervisor support on ethical (organizational citizenship behaviors) and unethical employee behavior (counterproductive workplace behavior) using a multi-method approach (one experiment and one field survey with multiple waves and supervisor ratings of employees). Specifically, we test the mediating mechanism (i.e., supervisor-based self-esteem) and a boundary condition (i.e., employee task satisfaction) that moderate the relationship between support and (un)ethical employee behaviors. We find that supervisor-based self-esteem fully mediates the relationship between supervisor support and (un)ethical employee behavior and that employee task satisfaction intensifies the relationship between supervisor support and supervisor-based self-esteem.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Sguera & Richard P. Bagozzi & Quy N. Huy & R. Wayne Boss & David S. Boss, 2018. "The More You Care, the Worthier I Feel, the Better I Behave: How and When Supervisor Support Influences (Un)Ethical Employee Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 615-628, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:153:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3339-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3339-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leslie Sekerka & Richard Bagozzi & Richard Charnigo, 2009. "Facing Ethical Challenges in the Workplace: Conceptualizing and Measuring Professional Moral Courage," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(4), pages 565-579, November.
    2. Yong Han & Yochanan Altman, 2009. "Supervisor and Subordinate Guanxi: A Grounded Investigation in the People’s Republic of China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 88(1), pages 91-104, April.
    3. Karina Lloyd & Diana Boer & Joshua Keller & Sven Voelpel, 2015. "Is My Boss Really Listening to Me? The Impact of Perceived Supervisor Listening on Emotional Exhaustion, Turnover Intention, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(3), pages 509-524, September.
    4. Elizabeth E. Umphress & John B. Bingham, 2011. "When Employees Do Bad Things for Good Reasons: Examining Unethical Pro-Organizational Behaviors," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 621-640, June.
    5. Irina Cojuharenco & Francesco Sguera, 2015. "When Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking Matter for Ethical Judgment: The Role of Time Hurriedness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(3), pages 717-725, September.
    6. repec:cup:judgdm:v:5:y:2010:i:5:p:411-419 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Gabriele Jacobs & Frank Belschak & Deanne Hartog, 2014. "(Un)Ethical Behavior and Performance Appraisal: The Role of Affect, Support, and Organizational Justice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 63-76, April.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Wayu Eko Yudiatmaja & Roy Valiant Salomo & Eko Prasojo, 2023. "Fostering Innovative Behavior of Millennial Public Employee Through Leadership Styles and Organizational Trust," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    4. Raghda Abulsaoud Ahmed Younis & Aida Said Moawad Elsaid, 2021. "Enhancing the In-Role Behaviour and Organizational Citizenship Behaviours in the Workplace: A Multidimensional View for the Role of Ethical Climate," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-1, July.
    5. Shike Li & Kriti Jain & Konstantina Tzini, 2022. "When Supervisor Support Backfires: The Link Between Perceived Supervisor Support and Unethical Pro-supervisor Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 133-151, August.
    6. Qiang Wang & Mei-Hua Lin & Anupama Narayan & Gary N. Burns & Nathan A. Bowling, 2022. "A cross-cultural examination of the relationships between job attitudes and workplace deviance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 249-272, March.

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