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The ethical threat of loneliness: the impact of workplace loneliness on cheating behavior

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Listed:
  • Rui Yan

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Yang Yang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Manlu Zhao

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

Abstract

With the prevalence of remote work and hybrid work, face-to-face socialization opportunities between employees have been on the decline, leading to more and more employees experiencing loneliness at work. To identify the impact of experiencing loneliness on employees’ unethical behavior, this study investigated the relationship between workplace loneliness and employees’ workplace cheating behavior. Based on self-regulation theory, we explored the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of task visibility from the perspective of self-regulation impairment. Through three-wave data collection and analysis involving 332 employees working from home, our results indicated that workplace loneliness can promote employees’ workplace cheating behavior by increasing emotional exhaustion. Especially in environments with low task visibility, our hypothesis was more strongly supported. This study extends the negative outcomes of workplace loneliness from the perspective of employees’ unethical behavior and reveals the mechanisms behind this relationship. It provides valuable theoretical and practical insights into understanding the potential ethical challenges of workplace loneliness and how the task characteristics of remote work influence the negative outcomes of workplace loneliness.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Yan & Yang Yang & Manlu Zhao, 2025. "The ethical threat of loneliness: the impact of workplace loneliness on cheating behavior," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04769-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04769-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Corinna Ewelt-Knauer & Anja Schwering & Sandra Winkelmann, 2022. "Doing Good by Doing Bad: How Tone at the Top and Tone at the Bottom Impact Performance-Improving Noncompliant Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 609-624, January.
    3. Gianluca F Delfino & Berend van der Kolk, 2021. "Remote working, management control changes and employee responses during the COVID-19 crisis," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(6), pages 1376-1387, April.
    4. Mamta Mohapatra & Poornima Madan & Shalini Srivastava, 2023. "Loneliness at Work: Its Consequences and Role of Moderators," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(3), pages 433-450, June.
    5. Lawrence, Ericka R. & Kacmar, K. Michele, 2017. "Exploring the Impact of Job Insecurity on Employees’ Unethical Behavior," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 39-70, January.
    6. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-06-2020-4657 is not listed on IDEAS
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