Greenwashing in workplace: The influencing mechanism of psychological contract fulfillment and the moderating role of ethical work climate

Abstract

Although green strategies are advocated, not all organizations follow the environmentally friendly rules as they claim. The term of greenwashing is applied to organizations that exaggerate their efforts in protecting the environment and provide misleading information about the greenness of their service. Employees may undertake unethical pro-organizational behaviors (e.g., greenwashing), when they are equipped with less environmentally friendly products. This investigation explores the mechanism of psychological contract fulfillment affecting greenwashing behavior in the hospitality context. We use a mixed-method approach and conduct two studies by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Findings suggest that psychological contract fulfillment increases the level of greenwashing behavior, with moral disengagement playing a mediating role. Further, an ethical climate moderates the relation between psychological contract fulfillment and moral disengagement; specifically, when employees work in a team with a high-level ethical climate, the positive relation between psychological contract fulfillment and moral disengagement is weakened. This research deepens the existing insight into the mechanism of influencing service workers’ greenwashing behaviors.

Yacht crews’ perceptions of ethical climate, safety climate, psychological capital and psychological well-being in Türkiye

“…Similarly, HR systems can help shape the feelings of employees about the work environment and HR practices have the potential to indicate that the well-being of employees is valued (Chuang and Liao, 2010). Thus, ECP has been presented as a map for ethical decisions and plays a major role in affecting the ethical or unethical behaviors and orientations of employees (Zhao et al, 2022). It also helps employees adopt ethical approaches in making ethical decisions and solving problems; this is related to employees and the work environment, thus boosting their satisfaction, motivation and well-being (Wang and Hsieh, 2012;Pizam, 2020).…”

“…Similarly, HR systems can help shape the feelings of employees about the work environment and HR practices have the potential to indicate that the well-being of employees is valued (Chuang and Liao, 2010). Thus, ECP has been presented as a map for ethical decisions and plays a major role in affecting the ethical or unethical behaviors and orientations of employees (Zhao et al. , 2022).…”