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Doing It Purposely? Mediation of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship Between Illegitimate Tasks and Counterproductive Work Behavior

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Abstract

Employees perceive illegitimate tasks as inappropriate assignments because such tasks are beyond what they expect to do in any given job position. Extant literature indicates that, in addition to creating psychological strain and reducing well-being, illegitimate task assignments can result in counterproductive work behavior (CWB). This study extends the literature by examining whether illegitimate tasks may lead to two specific forms of CWB targeting organizations: destructive voice and time theft. To understand how and when this happens, we investigate the mediating role of moral disengagement and the moderating role of psychological entitlement. Survey results based on 258 supervisor–subordinate dyads in China reveal that illegitimate tasks are positively related to destructive voice and time theft through moral disengagement. Furthermore, psychological entitlement strengthens the positive relationship between illegitimate tasks and moral disengagement and the indirect effect of illegitimate tasks on destructive voice and time theft. Overall, the findings provide insightful theoretical and managerial implications for research related to illegitimate tasks and CWB.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers 71832007, 71862019) and Social Science Research Project of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (Grant Number 18YJC630238).

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  1. School of Business, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    Lijing Zhao & Shuming Zhao

  2. Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Macau, China

    Long W. Lam

  3. School of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China

    Julie N. Y. Zhu

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Zhao, L., Lam, L.W., Zhu, J.N.Y. et al. Doing It Purposely? Mediation of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship Between Illegitimate Tasks and Counterproductive Work Behavior. J Bus Ethics 179, 733–747 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04848-7

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