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A Social Exchange Perspective of Employee–Organization Relationships and Employee Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Moderating Role of Individual Moral Identity

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Abstract

Prior research on employee–organization relationships (EORs) has exclusively focused on the positive consequences of high-inducement EORs (i.e., mutual- and over-investment EORs). Drawing from social exchange theory , we develop a model theorizing employee unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) as one potential negative outcome of high-inducement EORs, as mediated by high-quality social exchange relationship between the employee and the employer. Empirical findings from two field studies provided convergent support to the mediation relationship between mutual-investment EORs and employee UPB via perceived social exchange. Moreover, the results in Study 2 further revealed that the relationship was less significant among employees with higher levels of moral identity, because the positive relationship between perceived social exchange and employee UPB was weakened by high moral identity. The theoretical and managerial implications were discussed.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71232001, 71671077, 71772072, 71772073) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (2662015PY027).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, 430074

    Taolin Wang & Lirong Long

  2. College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, No. 1, Hongshan District, Wuhan City, 430070, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China

    Yong Zhang

  3. School of Business, Nanjing University, Hankou Street, No. 22, Gulou District, Nanjing City, 210093, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China

    Wei He

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  1. Taolin Wang
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  2. Lirong Long
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Correspondence to Yong Zhang.

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Wang, T., Long, L., Zhang, Y. et al. A Social Exchange Perspective of Employee–Organization Relationships and Employee Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Moderating Role of Individual Moral Identity. J Bus Ethics 159, 473–489 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3782-9

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