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

    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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