Dr. Sean Valentine, Professor of Management, paper accepted in the Journal of Business Ethics
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sean Valentine, Professor of Management for his recent Level 4 publication!
Title: “Good Barrels Yield Healthy Apples: Organizational Ethics as a Mechanism for Mitigating Work-Related Stress and Promoting Employee Well-Being”
Journal: Journal of Business Ethics (Level 4 on the NCoBPA JQL)
Authors: Charles Schwepker (University of Central Missouri), Sean Valentine (University of North Dakota), Robert Giacalone (John Carroll University), and Mark Promislo (Rider University)
Abstract: Ethical organizational contexts can yield favorable work outcomes, including positive attitudes, ethical reasoning, and productive conduct. However, little is known about how such contexts influence employees’ perceived stress levels and well-being. This study investigated the relationships among perceived organizational ethics (comprised of ethical climate, leader/manager ethics, and corporate social responsibility), work-related stress, and elevated employee well-being (comprised of vitality, life satisfaction, personal growth initiative, flourishing, positive mental health, and self-actualization). Data were collected in two rounds from Qualtrics panels of business professionals using a self-report questionnaire containing the relevant measures, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings across two studies indicated that organizational ethics was negatively related to work-related stress, and that work-related stress was negatively related to employee well-being. Perceived organizational ethics was also positively related to employee well-being, with post hoc mediation tests indicating that work-related stress partially mediated this positive relationship. The practical and managerial implications are outlined, the limitations are discussed, and multiple suggestions for future research are offered.
