Relationship between deviant workplace behaviour and moral disengagement among auto mechanics

Abstract

In Latvia, over the past year a large number of complaints related to the quality of repair and maintenance in car service stations have been recorded. Among the claims of customers, there are price deceptions, unjustified replacement of parts, imposing unnecessary repairs or replacement of parts, deliberate delayed repairs, which refers to deviant workplace behaviour. Among factors leading to this behaviour researchers attribute moral disengagement and immorality of the employees. This study empirically tested the relationship between deviant workplace behaviour and moral disengagement among auto mechanics. The study revealed that auto mechanics not prone to deviant workplace behaviour use such moral disengagement mechanisms that allow them to rationalise their behaviour by justifying its acceptability and morality, whereas automechanics with recurrent and regular deviant workplace behaviour use such moral disengagement mechanisms that distort the effects of their destructive behaviour making it possible to relieve themselves of responsibility or cover it up by shifting responsibility to the victims, other people or circumstances. The results can be applied in improving professional competences of service managers.