Ethical Climate as a Predictor of Counterproductive Work Behaviours and Turnover Intention: The Mediating Role of Level of Education

Abstract

The presence of a conducive work environment is desired to ensure the flow of positive behaviours in organizations. Now, the creation of an ethical climate is perceived to be key in ensuring that employee's engage in ethical behaviours. In view of this, we examined the direct predictive relationship between ethical climate, counterproductive work behaviours and turnover intentions. Also, we investigated the extent to which level of education mediates the relationship between ethical climate and counterproductive work behaviours. Predictive correlational research design was used in which data were gathered from 276 respondents from the Ghanaian service sector via reliable questionnaires. The hypotheses were tested using hierarchical multiple regression and standard regression tests. Ethical climate did not significantly predict counterproductive work behaviours, but the relationship between ethical climate and counterproductive work behaviours was partially mediated by level of education. It was observed that ethical climate significantly and negatively predicted turnover intentions. The findings were consistent with the social information processing theory. The findings have significant implications for the creation of positive ethical climate in Ghanaian organizations.