Counterproductive workplace behaviors

This study is an examination of the relationship between personal integrity, situational factors, and counterproductive workplace behaviors. Undergraduates (N = 395) were presented with 1 of 8 variations of a vignette designed to measure their perceptions of the situation, their likelihood of committing 1 of 4 counterproductive behaviors, and their integrity. Integrity, desirability, and risk were associated with the likelihood of counterproductive behavior. Contrary to expectations, group norms were limited in their prediction of counterproductivity. A significant effect was observed for the interaction of integrity and risk in relation to theft; individuals low in integrity were likely to commit theft under conditions of low risk, whereas individuals high in integrity were unaffected by risk. Implications and directions for future research on workplace counterproductivity are discussed.