Purpose Despite its growing prevalence, the outcomes and mechanisms of time theft remain underexplored. Drawing on social cognitive and self-perception theories, this study proposes a moderated dual-path model explaining how time theft can both hinder and foster organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) intentions. Design/methodology/approach A 2-wave survey was conducted among 380 employees in China to empirically test the proposed model. Hierarchical regression was used to test the hypotheses. Findings Results revealed a dual mechanism: time theft reduced OCB intentions via psychological entitlement but enhanced them via guilt. Notably, efficiency promotion motive moderated these diametric effects, mitigating the entitlement-mediated deterioration while amplifying the guilt-mediated amelioration. Practical implications Organizations should recognize the moral ambivalent nature of time theft and tackle it with nuanced strategies. Understanding the underlying motives of time theft might help to deal with its paradoxical influences. Originality/value This study challenges the view of time theft as purely harmful by revealing its opposing effects on OCB intentions. Integrating social cognitive and self-perception theories, it explains the moral ambivalence of time theft through two mechanisms – moral compensation and moral disengagement. By incorporating efficiency-driven motives, the study broadens the motivational understanding of time theft and offers a nuanced perspective on workplace deviance and prosocial intentions.
Hua et al. (2026) studied this question.