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Asian Journal of Business Ethics

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30-04-2021

Self-perceived misattributed culpability or incompetence at work

Authors: Robin Stanley Snell, Almaz Man-kuen Chak, May Mei-ling Wong, Sandy Suk-kwan Hui

Published in: Asian Journal of Business Ethics | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Employees with self-perceived misattributed culpability or incompetence (SMCI) are on the receiving end of complaints, reprimands, or accusations which, from their perspective, incorrectly assume that that they have fallen short of required standards or outcomes. We analyzed an archive of 23 personal stories featuring SMCI, which had been provided by 16 Hong Kong Chinese employees. The stories indicated that the most severe impacts on employee morale had arisen from punitive and targeted feedback based on misrepresentations by superiors, who had engaged in blame deflection, politicking and manipulation, conflict and retaliation, and/or prejudice and stereotyping. We also identified organizational processes, such as soliciting and accepting voice and engaging in problem solving discussions that could attenuate any adverse emotional impact.

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Title: Self-perceived misattributed culpability or incompetence at work
Authors: Robin Stanley Snell
Almaz Man-kuen Chak
May Mei-ling Wong
Sandy Suk-kwan Hui
Publication date: 30-04-2021
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Asian Journal of Business Ethics / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 2210-6723
Electronic ISSN: 2210-6731
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-021-00124-z

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