EXAMINING PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT BREACH AS AN ANTECEDENT OF INTENTION TO SABOTAGE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF MORAL IDENTITY

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The study investigates the mediating role of moral identity between psychological contract breaches, as an antecedent of intention to sabotage in the public sector organization in Fiji.
 Methodology: A self-completed written survey and a random sampling method were used in collecting data from 340 employees of various public sector organizations in Fiji Island. The data were analysed through SPSS and SEM for model fit in AMOS.
 Main Findings: The findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between psychological contract breach and intention to sabotage the service in the public sector organization (β=0.604, p < 0.01). The moral identity had a significant mediating relation between the two variables. (β=0.223, p < 0.01), as such, high moral identity partially mediated the relationship between psychological contract breaches and employee intention to sabotage service.
 Applications of this study: The result of the study is has a significant impact on improving organizational effectiveness and at the same time using moral identity as an indicator to evaluate employees in public sector organizations. Besides, organizations can also integrate ethics into training human resources.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: As neglected by prior studies, this study highlights the importance of recognizing the role of moral identity in organizational development, especially during a crisis. Furthermore, human behaviors do not operate as tabula rasa but the subsequent effect of organizational adversities such as PCB.