Abstract

Massive corruption and numerous corporate scandals uncovered in Nigeria, and other parts of the world, have created a need to understand the contextual drivers of unethical workplace behaviour. This study examines moral disengagement and moral awareness as antecedents of unethical workplace behavior. Data were obtained from 230 employees of selected manufacturing organizations in Lagos State, Nigeria, using random sampling techniques. Results showed that there was a significant difference in unethical workplace behaviour between high and low morally disengaged employees [t(228)=1.522; p<.05]. Moral disengagement dimensions of cognitive rationalization (β=.253; p<.05) and self-exemption (β=.311; p<.05) independently predicted unethical workplace behaviour; however, moral awareness did not mediate the influence of moral disengagement on unethical workplace behaviour. Based on these findings, it is concluded that acts of moral disengagement often justify acts of unethical behaviour in the workplace, irrespective of employees’ level of moral awareness. Therefore, management of organizations should endeavor to identify and formally prohibit the practice of moral disengagement among employees in a bid to curb unethical workplace practices.