Unethical Behavior in the Name of the Family: Exploring the Consequences of Unethical Pro-Family Behavior on Employees’ Work and Life

Meilan Nong () and Wenjuan Mei ()
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Meilan Nong: Guangxi Normal University
Wenjuan Mei: Jinan University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2025, vol. 197, issue 3, No 4, 505-522

Abstract: Abstract The existing literature on unethical pro-family behavior has mainly focused on its precursors, the outcomes of unethical pro-family behavior remain largely unknown. Building on the role theory, the current study presents an integrative model examining the effects of unethical pro-family behavior on actors’ work and life. Across an experiment and a multi-source, multi-wave field study, we found that employees who engage in unethical pro-family behavior experience role conflict, which further triggers their work withdrawal behavior and family emotional exhaustion. Moreover, we identify work role expansion as an essential boundary condition of the effect of unethical pro-family behavior on employees’ work and life. Specifically, the positive correlation between unethical pro-family behavior and role conflict and the indirect impact of unethical pro-family behavior on work withdrawal behavior as well as family emotional exhaustion via role conflict were weaker when work role expansion was high. Overall, this study provides insights into the consequences, mechanism, and boundary condition pertinent to employees’ unethical pro-family behavior.

Keywords: Unethical pro-family behavior; Role conflict; Work withdrawal behavior; Family emotional exhaustion; Work role expansion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05764-2

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