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Counterproductive work behaviour (CWB) has negative consequences in organizations. Yet, CWB often occurs covertly, making it difficult to detect. Drawing on the personality trait-based interactionist model of job performance (Tett & Burnett, 2003), this dyadic study (N = 242 employees) examines how the interplay between employees’ psychopathy and competitive workplace climate fosters CWB and its detection by coworkers, affecting coworkers’ well-being. Analyses via an Actor-Partner Interdependence Moderator Model showed a positive link between employees’ psychopathy and their CWB. This relationship was stronger in more competitive workplace climates. Competitive climate also enhanced coworkers’ detection of such CWB. Finally, coworkers’ perception of CWB fully mediated the effect of employees’ self-reported CWB on coworkers’ burnout. Thus, by integrating actor and observer perspectives and distinguishing between enacted and perceived CWB within a shared context, our findings show that personality and context interact to foster harmful behaviour that, when detected, undermines coworkers’ psychological well-being. This study thus advances research on when and how CWB emerges, is recognized, and causes harm. It further provides theoretical and practical implications and suggests avenues to prevent CWB by addressing dark personality traits and workplace climate.
Roth et al. (Fri,) studied this question.