Perceptions of Deviant Behaviour in the Workplace

Employee misconduct in the workplace is relatively common and may be counterproductive in social and material terms. To identify which undesirable behaviours are considered acceptable is the first step to develop ways to reduce deviance in organizational settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived acceptability of deviant behaviour in the workplace, and to analyse the relation between the degree of such acceptance with organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and organizational tenure. Data was obtained from 223 adults employed full-time. Results suggest a positive relationship between the degree of acceptability of certain forms of deviant behaviour and organizational commitment, but not with job satisfaction. They further indicate that tenure was the factor having the most impact on the acceptance of deviant behaviours. Implications of the findings for the management are discussed.