Is unethical leadership a negative for Employees' personal growth and intention to stay? The buffering role of responsibility climate

Abstract

Abstract Various forms of unethical leadership are associated with a wide range of negative outcomes, including decreases in subordinates' intention to stay, which is associated with higher turnover, among other negative organizational outcomes. Since the strength of the association between unethical leadership and intent to stay is variable, we examined personal growth satisfaction as a mediator and responsibility climate as a moderator of the relationship. In a Spain‐based sample of 150 employees, we found as anticipated, that personal growth satisfaction mediated the negative impact of unethical supervision on intention to stay. In terms of moderation, also as expected, high (versus low) responsibility climate weakened the negative relationship between unethical leadership and subordinates' personal growth satisfaction, as well as the indirect negative impact of unethical leadership on subordinates' intention to stay. Importantly, since unethical leadership is difficult to eliminate totally, our findings are significant because they suggest several ways to minimize its negative effects.

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