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Purpose This study aims to examine how employee misconduct (EM) is conceptualised and identify the theories, most-cited articles, research countries, approaches, antecedents, mediating factors, consequences and moderators within EM research, along with recommendations for future investigation. Two research questions are addressed: What are the current trends and key factors contributing to EM? What potential directions exist for future research in this domain? Design/methodology/approach This systematic review analyses publications from 2014 to March 2025, focusing exclusively on the business management field. The articles were retrieved from the Scopus database and reviewed per established SPAR-4-SLR guidelines. In total, 64 studies were systematically reviewed, consolidated and integrated. The theory, context, characteristics, methodology (TCCM) framework was also applied to categorise and organise the literature. Findings The findings reveal multiple sources of EM and individual, interpersonal and organisational antecedents and consequences. This study also offers a comprehensive contemporary review of existing research, emphasising future directions for investigating EM. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to Scopus-listed publications within business and management. As a result, it may exclude cross-disciplinary perspectives and seminal studies published before the 2014–2025 timeframe. Originality/value This review contributes by addressing a gap where no prior studies have systematically organised and integrated research on EM. Consolidating scattered findings into a structured framework enables researchers to identify neglected themes and areas requiring deeper exploration.
Baghel et al. (Wed,) studied this question.