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Repaying the Debt: An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Organizational Support and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior by Low Performers

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyu Wang

    (Tongji University)

  • Xiaotong (Janey) Zheng

    (Durham University)

  • Shuming Zhao

    (Nanjing University)

Abstract

Drawing on social exchange theory, we examine the conditions under which employees’ good intentions motivate them to engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and the psychological mechanism behind this behavioral decision. Findings from a time-lagged field study and a scenario study indicate (1) an interactive effect between perceived organizational support and employee performance on UPB; (2) that low performers who perceive high levels of organizational support are more likely to engage in UPB; and (3) that feelings of indebtedness to the organization mediate the interactive effect on UPB. Therefore, the paper highlights the importance of conditional factors in motivating UPB by combining employee ‘good intentions’ and ‘disadvantageous situations’ to understand the UPB decision process. The paper concludes with theoretical and practical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyu Wang & Xiaotong (Janey) Zheng & Shuming Zhao, 2022. "Repaying the Debt: An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Organizational Support and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior by Low Performers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 697-709, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:179:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04809-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04809-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Hana Huang Johnson & Elizabeth E. Umphress, 2019. "To Help My Supervisor: Identification, Moral Identity, and Unethical Pro-supervisor Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 519-534, October.
    3. Allan Lee & Gary Schwarz & Alexander Newman & Alison Legood, 2019. "Investigating When and Why Psychological Entitlement Predicts Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 109-126, January.
    4. Elizabeth Umphress & Lily Ren & John Bingham & Celile Gogus, 2009. "The Influence of Distributive Justice on Lying for and Stealing from a Supervisor," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(4), pages 507-518, June.
    5. Suchuan Zhang, 2020. "Workplace Spirituality and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Mediating Effect of Job Satisfaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(3), pages 687-705, January.
    6. Xiong, Xiling & Guo, Siyuan & Gu, Li & Huang, Rong & Zhou, Xinyue, 2018. "Reciprocity anxiety: Individual differences in feeling discomfort in reciprocity situations," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 149-161.
    7. Taolin Wang & Lirong Long & Yong Zhang & Wei He, 2019. "A Social Exchange Perspective of Employee–Organization Relationships and Employee Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Moderating Role of Individual Moral Identity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 473-489, October.
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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. Hao Zhou & Yang Ran, 2023. "The nonlinear impact of perceptions of organizational politics on unethical pro-organizational behavior in Chinese culture: Moderating role of Zhongyong," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1544-1566, September.

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