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Don’t blame the powerless: The impact of hierarchy on reactions to responses to ethical scandals

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  • Palmeira, Mauricio
  • Hartmann, Nathaniel N.
  • Chan, Eugene
  • Sekar, Samuel B.

Abstract

We examine consumer reactions to the blaming of higher-level (e.g., upper managers) vs. lower-level (e.g., sales associates) employees for an ethical scandal. Using a multi-methods approach involving interviews and three experiments, we find support for a series of insights: (1) consumers are biased toward attributing greater responsibility for an ethical scandal to higher-level vs. lower-level employees; (2) consumers hold more favorable attitudes regarding the company when the CEO places the blame on the higher- (vs. lower-) level employees; (3) consumers, even when parties are considered equally responsible, react more positively to a company that blames higher-level employees; (4) the effect of blaming higher-level employees is only observed among those more dispositioned to reject hierarchical differences (i.e., individuals low on power distance beliefs).

Suggested Citation

  • Palmeira, Mauricio & Hartmann, Nathaniel N. & Chan, Eugene & Sekar, Samuel B., 2023. "Don’t blame the powerless: The impact of hierarchy on reactions to responses to ethical scandals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:165:y:2023:i:c:s0148296323004332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114075
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