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Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Unethical Behavior in the Name of the Company: The Role of Job Insecurity, Job Embeddedness, and Turnover Intention

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  • Ibrahim A. Elshaer

    (Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Hotel Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt)

  • Alaa M. S. Azazz

    (Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Arts College, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 380, Saudi Arabia
    Tourism Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt)

Abstract

The worldwide economic crisis initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic certainly altered the perception of regular job insecurity dimensions and brought these to the ultimate level. When employees feel insecure, they may decide to participate in unethical behavior in the name of the company to avoid layoff and become retained employees. This study investigated the relationship between job insecurity and unethical organizational behavior through the mediating role of job embeddedness and turnover intention. A total of 685 employees working in five- and four-star hotels and category A travel agents participated in this study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Job embeddedness and turnover intention were found to be partially mediated by the impact of job insecurity on unethical organizational behavior. Theoretical and practical implications were identified and discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Alaa M. S. Azazz, 2021. "Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Unethical Behavior in the Name of the Company: The Role of Job Insecurity, Job Embeddedness, and Turnover Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:247-:d:711629
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    Cited by:

    1. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Marwa Ghanem & Alaa M. S. Azazz, 2022. "An Unethical Organizational Behavior for the Sake of the Family: Perceived Risk of Job Insecurity, Family Motivation and Financial Pressures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Mansour A. Alyahya & Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, 2021. "The Impact of Job Insecurity and Distributive Injustice Post COVID-19 on Social Loafing Behavior among Hotel Workers: Mediating Role of Turnover Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Alaa M. S. Azazz & Samar K. Saad, 2022. "Unethical Organization Behavior: Antecedents and Consequences in the Tourism Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Hussein N. E. Edrees & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Hassane Gharbi & Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr, 2023. "The Influences of Procedural Justice on Turnover Intention and Social Loafing Behavior among Hotel Employees," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Hassane Gharbi & Nadir Aliane & Khaled A. Al Falah & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, 2022. "You Really Affect Me: The Role of Social Influence in the Relationship between Procedural Justice and Turnover Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Fida Hassanein & Hale Özgit, 2022. "Sustaining Human Resources through Talent Management Strategies and Employee Engagement in the Middle East Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Lavinia Denisia Cuc & Andrea Feher & Paul Nichita Cuc & Silviu Gabriel Szentesi & Dana Rad & Gavril Rad & Mioara Florina Pantea & Cosmin Silviu Raul Joldes, 2022. "A Parallel Mediation Analysis on the Effects of Pandemic Accentuated Occupational Stress on Hospitality Industry Staff Turnover Intentions in COVID-19 Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    8. Meqbel M. Aliedan & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Mansour A. Alyahya & Ibrahim A. Elshaer, 2022. "Influences of Distributive Injustice and Job Insecurity Amid COVID-19 on Unethical Pro-Organisational Behaviour: Mediating Role of Employee Turnover Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.

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