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Employee Entitlement, Engagement, and Performance: The Moderating Effect of Ethical Leadership

Author

Listed:
  • Toby Joplin

    (CCK Strategies, PLLC)

  • Rebecca L. Greenbaum

    (Rutgers University)

  • J. Craig Wallace

    (Clemson University)

  • Bryan D. Edwards

    (Oklahoma State University)

Abstract

Drawing on theoretical arguments from the psychology discipline, we investigate the implications of employee entitlement in organizational settings. Specifically, we utilize workplace engagement theory to suggest that due to their skewed sense of deservingness, employees high in entitlement are less likely to experience workplace engagement. Furthermore, the negative relationship between employee entitlement and workplace engagement is strengthened when ethical leadership is low, yet mitigated when ethical leadership is high. Finally, we predict that under conditions of low ethical leadership, reductions in engagement explain why employee entitlement results in hindered job performance. This mediated effect does not hold when ethical leadership is high. We tested our theoretical model utilizing field data from employees and their direct supervisors in the financial services industry (N = 243). Our results support our theoretical model. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Toby Joplin & Rebecca L. Greenbaum & J. Craig Wallace & Bryan D. Edwards, 2021. "Employee Entitlement, Engagement, and Performance: The Moderating Effect of Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 813-826, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:168:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04246-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04246-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yuming Wang & Wenan Hu & Zhaopeng Liu & Jinlian Luo, 2023. "My Family Accounts Much for Me: How Does Work-to-Family Conflict Lead to Unethical Pro-Family Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Shuwen Li & Ruiqian Jia & Juergen H. Seufert & Jinlian Luo & Rui Sun, 2023. "You may not reap what you sow: How and when ethical leadership promotes subordinates’ online helping behavior," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1683-1702, December.
    3. Lijing Zhao & Long W. Lam & Julie N. Y. Zhu & Shuming Zhao, 2022. "Doing It Purposely? Mediation of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship Between Illegitimate Tasks and Counterproductive Work Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 733-747, September.
    4. Kalra, Ashish & Briggs, Elten & Schrock, Wyatt, 2023. "Exploring the synergistic role of ethical leadership and sales control systems on salesperson social media use and sales performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

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