In the light of conservation of resources theory and social learning theory, the current research investigates the impact of responsible leadership over unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and unethical pro-family behavior (UPFB) via sequential mediation of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, it investigated the positive and negative effects of responsible leadership such that a responsible leader lessens UPB of employees, but it might cause unintentional UPFB through sequential mediation of OCB and emotional exhaustion.
The research data consist of supervisor-subordinate matching dyads in a time-lagged pattern from faculty and administrative staff of public universities in two waves.
The findings of the study reveal an indirect relationship between responsible leadership and unethical pro-social behavior via sequential mediation of OCB and emotional exhaustion.
Highlighting the importance of unethical practices at the workplace, the current study examines the effect of responsible leadership on unethical pro-social behavior. The study is novel in that it simultaneously investigates the bright and dark effects of responsible leadership in the context of higher education institutions.
