Pay Me in Equity: Can Equal Opportunity Climate Attenuate Counterproductive Work Behavior?

Date

2019-12

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Abstract

In the military, force readiness is essential to mission readiness. To this end, the current study sought to identify how equal opportunity (EO) climate may enhance force readiness by mitigating withholding of effort, a counterproductive work behavior (CWB). Specifically, I assessed how EO climate may both directly and indirectly mitigate withholding of effort through emotional exhaustion, emotional stability, and conscientiousness. Using the conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989), I suggested that EO climate, emotional stability, and conscientiousness minimize withholding of effort by acting as a resource. I hypothesized EO climate would have both a direct and indirect effect on withholding of effort through emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, I hypothesized that the relationship between EO climate and emotional exhaustion would be moderated by emotional stability, such that when emotional stability is high, the relationship between EO climate and emotional exhaustion is low. Additionally, I hypothesized that conscientiousness would moderate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and withholding of effort, such that when conscientiousness is high, the relationship between emotional exhaustion and withholding of effort would be low. I found partial support for my hypotheses. The implications of my study are twofold: EO climate does mitigate withholding of effort, potentially enhancing performance, and resources may have ceiling (rather than additive) effects.

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Keywords

Climate, Equal opportunity climate, Counterproductive work behavior

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