Repaying the Debt: An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Organisational Support and Unethical Pro-Organisational Behaviour by Low Performers

Wang, X.; Zheng, X.; Zhao, S.

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.

Citation

Wang, X., Zheng, X., & Zhao, S. (2022). Repaying the Debt: An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Organisational Support and Unethical Pro-Organisational Behaviour by Low Performers. Journal of Business Ethics, 179(3), 697-709. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04809-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 27, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 18, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Deposit Date: May 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 29, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Business Ethics
• Print ISSN: 0167-4544
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-0697
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 179
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 697-709
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04809-0
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1275078