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Working with monsters: counting the costs of workplace psychopaths and other toxic employees

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  • Rebecca T. Michalak
  • Neal M. Ashkanasy

Abstract

We explore the role of ‘Workplace Monsters’ in the global burden of disease, including the $US1.15 trillion annual cost of depressive and anxiety disorders. We propose the productivity drain created by these individuals is a wicked problem, integrating several disciplines to position workplace monsters as significant corporate governance issues for organisations. Our discussion covers Monster prevalence, impacts on fellow workers and estimates of the costs incurred to business. We classify Monsters as ‘appreciating liabilities’ and call for future research to develop means of accounting for their inherent organisational costs in an effort to prompt action to address their destructive impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca T. Michalak & Neal M. Ashkanasy, 2020. "Working with monsters: counting the costs of workplace psychopaths and other toxic employees," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(S1), pages 729-770, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:60:y:2020:i:s1:p:729-770
    DOI: 10.1111/acfi.12369
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martina K. Linnenluecke & Jacqueline Birt & Xiaoyan Chen & Xin Ling & Tom Smith, 2017. "Accounting Research in Abacus, A&F, AAR, and AJM from 2008–2015: A Review and Research Agenda," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 53(2), pages 159-179, June.
    2. Antonina Korinenko, 2017. "Documentary Support for Accounting of Land Use Rights," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 4, pages 40-45, December.
    3. Clive Boddy & Richard Ladyshewsky & Peter Galvin, 2010. "The Influence of Corporate Psychopaths on Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Commitment to Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Mariya Chik, 2017. "Legal and Regulatory Aspects of the Recognition and Accounting of Intangible Assets," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 3, pages 59-65, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Faff & Tim Kastelle & Micheal Axelsen & Mark Brosnan & Rebecca Michalak & Kathleen Walsh, 2021. "Pitching research for engagement and impact: a simple tool and illustrative examples," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(2), pages 3329-3383, June.

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