Main and moderating effects of self-control, organizational justice, and emotional labour on counterproductive behaviour at work

Abstract

Abstract What are the antecedents of counterproductive behaviour (CB) at work? Previous research identified both trait and perceived situational variables such as dispositional self-control and organizational justice. In this article, the focus is on employees' perceived job demands. More specifically, the relation between emotional labour (surface and deep acting) and CB is examined. An online study with service providers from different lines of business (N = 559) confirmed that, while controlling for dispositional self-control and organizational injustice, both surface and deep acting in customer interactions were related to CB at work. Whereas the most influential variable was dispositional self-control, the findings confirm that people's perceived job demands contribute to deviant behaviour at work. Practical implications for job design are discussed. Keywords: Counterproductive behaviourDeep actingEmotional labourEmotion regulationSurface acting Notes 1To ensure anonymity we did not ask for the exact age but just for age groups. 2We also carried out additional analyses in which we included composite measures of organizational justice and emotional labour. We built these composites as described by Marcus and Schuler (Citation2004). Results largely remained unchanged, with the exception of the three-way interaction of self-control, emotional labour, and justice on organizational justice, which was not significant in this model. Further details can be required upon request from the first author.