Perceived personal and contextual impunity: Conceptualization, antecedents, and implications for workplace misconduct.

Abstract

Scholarship on impunity has centered around quantifiable prosecutions related to criminal acts that often occur outside of the workplace. We offer insights into the psychological experience of impunity by shifting the focus to organizational settings and embedding impunity within discussions of workplace misconduct. We distinguish between (a) perceived personal impunity, which reflects employees' belief that they will not face punishment for their own misconduct; and (b) perceived contextual impunity, which reflects employees' belief that their organization will not punish employees for their misconduct. We develop and validate measures for each impunity perception and establish a preliminary nomological network by investigating factors that influence each perception and their relationship with workplace misconduct. Consequently, we offer nuanced insights into how distinct impunity perceptions result in workplace misconduct relative to other established predictors. Our perceived workplace impunity measures provide a valuable tool for assessing impunity perceptions and predicting instances of misconduct. In addition, they offer practical insights into impunity's functions within organizations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).