Decent Work and Workplace Deviance Among Chinese Physicians: A Relative Deprivation Perspective

Abstract

Purpose

Managing workplace deviance has long been a hot topic in the organizational research. However, the mechanisms through which decent work affects workplace deviance have yet to be fully understood. Drawing upon relative deprivation theory, this study examines the relationship between decent work and workplace deviance by focusing on the mediating role of relative deprivation and the moderating role of career calling.

Methods

Two waves of data from 307 doctors and 61 supervisors of public hospitals in central China were examined using a the moderated mediation model.

Results

Decent work is negatively associated with workplace deviance via the mediation of relative deprivation, and the negative relationship between decent work and relative deprivation is negatively moderated by career calling. The mediating role of relative deprivation is moderated by career calling, and the indirect effect is stronger when career calling is high than when it is low.

Conclusion

By focusing on the mediating role of relative deprivation and the moderating role of career calling, this study contributes to the literature by addressing the previously unexamined relationship between decent work and workplace deviance. Moreover, this study responds to calls for research on decent work from the perspective of relative deprivation.

Keywords:

• decent work
• workplace deviance
• relative deprivation
• career calling
• physicians

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Public Administration of South China University of Technology. All respondents were asked to read the informed consent carefully before the initiation of questionnaire, and complete the questionnaire voluntarily. The informed consent was uploaded to the Supplementary File 1.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (project number: 21BGL027).

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declare no potential conflicts of interest in this work.