The effect of leader unethical pro-organizational behaviour on subordinate silence: the mediating role of moral ownership

This study explores the psychological mechanism underlying and the boundary condition affecting the relationship between leader unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and subordinate silence. Drawing on social cognitive theory (SCT), we posit that leader UPB may decrease subordinate moral ownership, which in turn might trigger subordinate silence; we further hypothesize that corporate social responsibility (CSR) directed toward employees may weaken the relationship between leader UPB and subordinate moral ownership as well as the indirect relationship between leader UPB and subordinate silence via subordinate moral ownership. A time-lagged survey of a sample consisting of 304 leader–subordinate dyads located in China supports the hypothesized moderated mediation model. This research explores the consequences of UPB and provides guidelines for practitioners.