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Impact of Peer Unethical Behaviors on Employee Silence: The Role of Organizational Identification and Emotions

Author

Listed:
  • Aneka Fahima Sufi

    (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

  • Usman Raja

    (Brock University)

  • Arif Nazir Butt

    (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

Abstract

Although extant literature has covered the differences between unethical behaviors in relation to perpetrators and targets, most of this research has not considered the effects of observed unethical behaviors on employees. In this study, we focus on observed unethical behaviors of peers targeted at their organization and examine how witnessing a peer engage in an organizationally targeted unethical behavior would impact the observer. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory, we propose that organizational identification will inform emotions, which in turn will shape employee silence, depending on how employees appraise the observed unethical behavior. We theorize that peer unethical behaviors would induce anger, anxiety, and vicarious shame, which will guide employees’ quiescent and prosocial silence behaviors. In addition, we suggest that the proposed relationships would vary with the level of organizational identification. With a sample of 329, results from a between-subject scenario study generally supported our hypotheses. There was a combined effect of peer unethical behaviors and organizational identification on anger, anxiety, and shame, which in turn led to employee silence in the cases of anxiety and shame.

Suggested Citation

  • Aneka Fahima Sufi & Usman Raja & Arif Nazir Butt, 2024. "Impact of Peer Unethical Behaviors on Employee Silence: The Role of Organizational Identification and Emotions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(4), pages 821-839, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:190:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05397-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05397-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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