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The Ethics of Meaningful Work: Types and Magnitude of Job-Related Harm and the Ethical Decision-Making Process

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  • Douglas May
  • Cuifang Li
  • Jennifer Mencl
  • Ching-Chu Huang

Abstract

This research on the ethics of meaningful work examined how types of job-related harm (physical, economic, emotional, and cognitive) and their magnitude of consequences (MOC, low, high) influenced components of ethical decision-making (moral recognition, moral evaluations, and moral intentions). The research also investigated the moderating effects of individual differences (experience with carpal tunnel syndrome, experience with layoffs, ability to read others’ emotions, and intrinsic motivation orientation [IMO]) on the relation between the MOC and the ethical decision-making elements for each type of harm. Using a sample of 185 Chinese professionals, a between-subjects, fully crossed experimental scenario design revealed that physical and economic job-related harm were recognized as moral issues to a greater extent than cognitive or emotional harm. Second, physical job-related harm stimulated a higher level of moral evaluations than economic and cognitive harm. Third, individuals intended to act ethically when MOC was high versus low. Finally, experience with layoffs and IMO helped explain the relations between MOC and moral evaluations for economic and cognitive job-related harm, respectively. Implications for research and management are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas May & Cuifang Li & Jennifer Mencl & Ching-Chu Huang, 2014. "The Ethics of Meaningful Work: Types and Magnitude of Job-Related Harm and the Ethical Decision-Making Process," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(4), pages 651-669, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:121:y:2014:i:4:p:651-669
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1736-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ozgur Demirtas & Sean T. Hannah & Kubilay Gok & Aykut Arslan & Nejat Capar, 2017. "The Moderated Influence of Ethical Leadership, Via Meaningful Work, on Followers’ Engagement, Organizational Identification, and Envy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 183-199, September.
    2. Mai Chi Vu & Nicholas Burton, 2022. "The Influence of Spiritual Traditions on the Interplay of Subjective and Normative Interpretations of Meaningful Work," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 543-566, October.
    3. Berthoin Antal, Ariane & Debucquet, Gervaise & Frémeaux, Sandrine, 2018. "Meaningful work and artistic interventions in organizations: Conceptual development and empirical exploration," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 85, pages 375-385.
    4. Christian Wiradendi Wolor & Solikhah & Dewi Susita & S. Martono, 2020. "How to Maintain Employee Motivation Amid The Covid-19 Virus Pandemic," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 78-86.
    5. Ariane Berthoin Antal & Gervaise Debucquet & Sandrine Frémeaux, 2018. "Meaningful work and artistic interventions in organizations: Conceptual development and empirical exploration," Post-Print hal-03232781, HAL.
    6. Rai, Arpana & Kim, Minseo & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2023. "Meaningful work from ethics perspective: Examination of ethical antecedents and outcomes of meaningful work," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Shakeel Ahmed & Zarain Islam & Mashhood Ur Rehman & Muhammad Hasnain Ali, 2021. "Meaningful Leadership: How Can Leader Contribute To Meaningful Work? The Mediating Role Of Cooperativeness," ILMA Journal of Social Sciences & Economics (IJSSE), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 1(1), pages 1-14.
    8. Berthoin Antal, Ariane & Debucquet, Gervaise & Frémeaux, Sandrine, 2018. "Meaningful work and artistic interventions in organizations: Conceptual development and empirical exploration," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 375-385.
    9. Mohamed Mousa & Rami M. Ayoubi & Hiba K. Massoud & Walid Chaouali, 2021. "Workplace Fun, Organizational Inclusion and Meaningful Work: an Empirical Study," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 393-408, September.
    10. Bailey, Catherine & Madden, Adrian, 2019. "“We’re not scum, we’re human”: Agential responses in the face of meaningless work," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(4).

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