Emotional Neglect, Self-Deception, and Unethical Workplace Behavior: Moderating Effect of Machiavellianism

Based on ethical faded theory, this paper examines the relationship between emotional neglect and unethical behavior via self-deception under the influence of employee Machiavellianism. A two-phased survey involving 253 managerial employees of various private sector service organizations was conducted in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Data showed sufficient reliability and validity of existing measures used in this study. The conditional process analysis revealed that employees emotionally neglected at work indulged in unethical behavior and that self-deception by such employees explained this mechanism. Employee Machiavellianism moderated the relationship between self-deception and unethical behavior, indicating that the indirect effect of emotional neglect on unethical behavior would be more robust for employees with high levels of Machiavellianism in their personalities. Findings help understand the antecedents and conditions that promote unethical behavior at work and warrant the need for effective managerial strategies to prevent it. Implications of these findings have been discussed.