Title

Employee reactions to Internet monitoring: The moderating role of ethical orientation

Authors

Authors

G. S. Alder; M. Schminke; T. W. Noel;M. Kuenzi

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Bus. Ethics

Keywords

electronic monitoring; ethical orientation; ethics; formalism; Internet; utilitarianism; ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE; PERFORMANCE; WORK; PREDISPOSITIONS; SURVEILLANCE; SATISFACTION; PERCEPTIONS; FAIRNESS; BUSINESS; ISSUES; Business; Ethics

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that employee reactions to monitoring systems depend on both the characteristics of the monitoring system and how it is implemented. However, little is known about the role individual differences may play in this process. This study proposes that individuals have generalized attitudes toward organizational control and monitoring activities. We examined this argument by assessing the relationship between employees' baseline attitudes toward a set of monitoring and control techniques that span the employment relationship. We further explore the effects of employees' generalized attitudes toward monitoring and their individual ethical orientations on their attitudinal reactions to an Internet monitoring system implemented in their workplace. Results of a longitudinal study indicate that as expected, prior beliefs and ethical orientation interact to affect employees' reactions to monitoring systems. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Journal Title

Journal of Business Ethics

Volume

80

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

481

Last Page

498

WOS Identifier

WOS:000256430000007

ISSN

0167-4544

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