An eye on your work: How empowerment affects the relationship between electronic surveillance and counterproductive work behaviours. Issue 21 (29th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Angela J.; Wellen, Jackie M.; Grimmer, Martin R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of human resource management. Volume 27:Issue 21(2016)
• Page Start: 2635
• Page End: 2651
• Publication Date: 2016-11-29
• Subjects: counterproductive work behaviours -- surveillance attitudes -- work empowerment -- workplace surveillance; Personnel management -- Periodicals; Human capital -- Management -- Periodicals; 658.3
• DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2016.1225313
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-5192

Abstract

Abstract : Attitudes towards surveillance in the workplace play an important role in determining whether surveillance systems and practices have a positive or negative impact on work behaviour. A survey study of employed Australians ( n = 406) was used to test a model in which attitudes towards workplace surveillance were hypothesised to mediate the relationship between perceived level of surveillance at work and counterproductive work behaviours (CWBs). In accordance with expectations, higher levels of perceived surveillance were associated with more CWB, and this relationship was mediated by attitudes towards surveillance. We also theorised that work empowerment may act as a potential buffer against the impact of unfavourable surveillance attitudes on CWBs. Support was also found for this hypothesis as unfavourable surveillance attitudes were not associated with adverse work behaviour among employees who reported higher levels of work empowerment. We discuss how work design and leadership practices can be utilised to build a sense of empowerment in relation to employees' work with the aim of attenuating some of the potentially negative effects of high levels of surveillance.