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Cut You Some Slack? An Investigation of the Perceptions of a Depleted Employee’s Unethicality

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Listed:
  • Yajun Zhang

    (Guizhou University of Finance and Economics)

  • Kai Chi Yam

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Maryam Kouchaki

    (Northwestern University)

  • Junwei Zhang

    (Huazhong Agricultural University)

Abstract

Whereas previous research on ego depletion and ethics suggests that employees who are depleted of their self-control resources are more likely to engage in unethical behavior, our current research focuses on how observers perceive and react to depleted employees’ unethical behavior. Integrating ego depletion and attribution theories, we hypothesize and find that observers judge depleted employees’ unethical behavior more leniently than non-depleted employees as a result of lower levels of perceived intentionality. These perceptions in turn lead to lower levels of punishment. Results further suggest that not all types of depletion lead to the same effects on observers’ lenient moral judgments—depletion due to externally imposed reasons are more likely to result in lenient moral judgment, compared to depletion due to internally imposed reasons.

Suggested Citation

  • Yajun Zhang & Kai Chi Yam & Maryam Kouchaki & Junwei Zhang, 2019. "Cut You Some Slack? An Investigation of the Perceptions of a Depleted Employee’s Unethicality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 673-683, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:157:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3690-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3690-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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