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How Moral Identity Inhibits Employee Silence Behavior: The Roles of Felt Obligation and Corporate Social Responsibility Perception

Author

Listed:
  • Aimin Yan

    (Central South University)

  • Hao Guo

    (Central South University
    University of South China)

  • Zhiqing E. Zhou

    (City University of New York)

  • Julan Xie

    (Central South University)

  • Hao Ma

    (Central South University)

Abstract

As a common organizational phenomenon, employee silence behavior has various negative implications for organizations, making it critical to understand what factors can reduce employee silence. Drawing upon self-verification theory, this study explores the inhibiting effect of moral identity on silence via felt obligation towards organization. Meanwhile, we also examine the moderating effect of corporate social responsibility perception. We collected three waves of data with a two-month interval from 402 Chinese employees. Results indicated that moral identity positively predicted felt obligation towards organization, which in turn negatively predicted silence behavior. The negative indirect effect of moral identity on silence behavior via felt obligation towards organization was moderated by corporate social responsibility perception. Specifically, this indirect effect was stronger when employees perceived a higher level of corporate social responsibility. By integrating self-verification theory with silence behavior research, our findings provide important insights into the prevention of employee silence behavior in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Aimin Yan & Hao Guo & Zhiqing E. Zhou & Julan Xie & Hao Ma, 2023. "How Moral Identity Inhibits Employee Silence Behavior: The Roles of Felt Obligation and Corporate Social Responsibility Perception," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 405-420, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:187:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05263-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05263-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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