One of the many things managers worry about is employees breaking the rules. Evidence suggests that such behavior is widespread, and it can have devastating consequences. Companies have tried many different ways to limit unethical behavior, from creating codes of conduct to implementing ethical training. But these interventions are often criticized for being ineffective. This may be because they’re too direct.
Does Doing the Same Work Over and Over Again Make You Less Ethical?
Research on the benefits of varied tasks.
March 28, 2017
Summary.
Does doing the same task over and over trigger more automatic decision-making and make employees more likely to behave unethically? New research finds that working on the same task may lead to more rule breaking, while switching back and forth between even a few tasks may lead to less. Results from four studies point to a relatively simple way to support rule compliance at work: changing the order in which employees perform routine tasks may be an easier way to promote rule-following, as opposed to trying to change people’s motivations.
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Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.
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New!
HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Ethics at Work Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Ethics at Work. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.