How employees cheat

a little at workAnd how punishing them can be counterproductive

Alix KesselmanFelix GarciaSarah PonsShihao Tang

Introduction People cheat at work for a number of reason

Employee feels frustrated or dissatisfiedThe work itself is most strongly

correlated to job satisfaction for most people

Introduction People cheat at work for a number of reason

Employee feels burnt out due to stressorsStressors include:

Role Ambiguity

Time Pressure

Work-family conflict

Financial

uncertainty

Introduction

Organizations have the task of diminishing those cases

We want to guide you through what, we believe, is

the most beneficial outcome

Cheating in one aspect in life leads to cheating in other aspects as well.

The Effects of Positive & Negative Reinforcement

Good Behavior Positive Reinforcement

Rewards & Incentives Motivate Your Workers

Encourage Your Workers

Guide them to meet levels of expectation

PERFORMANCE

MOTIVATION

POSITIVE REINFORCEME

NT

OUTCOMES

Heightened Job PerformanceMaintains Employee Morale

Creates Sustained Behavior

Expectations FulfilledConditioned & Strengthened Employees

Poor Behavior Negative Reinforcement

Management tool

Motivate employees and control their behaviors by getting rid of unfavorable conditions as long as the employees continue to perform as expected.

Unpleasant Condition Removed

Encourages Employees to Perform Better

Reaching Positive Desired Behavior

Examples Random Drug Testing

Removing Weekly Meetings

Close Monitoring

Adjusting Hours

OUTCOMES

Unpleasant Condition could become worse

More control could lead to more stress

However, in many cases, it could make a negative impact

Consequences Higher costs

Lack of Trust

Lower morale

OUTCOMES

Less efficient and long-lasting

Positive behavior followed by positive consequences

(manager praises the employee)

Positive behavior followed by negative consequences (manager stops nagging

the employee)

Negative behavior followed by removal of positive consequences (manager ignores the

behavior)

Negative behavior followed by negative

consequences (manager demotes the employee)

Extinction

Negative Reinforcement

Punishment

Positive Reinforcement

Possibilities of Positive

ReinforcementHow to make people commit with the organization, in order to

avoid cheating.

How to do it?

Actual Benefit

Help developing employees’ continuance commitment to the organization, as well as affective commitment.

Advantage direct and effective.

Disadvantage Expensive.

Actual Benefit - Example Corporate Welfare: Increasing employees’ commitment by

concerning their daily life.

Example: Company restaurant, shuttle bus, gym, employee discount etc.

Actual Benefit Reward By awarding outstanding employees and hard-workers to

praise their performance and also encourage others.

Share the cake For upper managers, binding their interest with the organization by giving an amount of company shares.

Relationship Building Developing employees’ commitment by building a friendly, close

relationship with their peers, supervisors and organization as a whole.

Advantage effective and less costly.

Disadvantage Time-consuming

Relationship Building Example Organizational activity: Holding a party and a seminar to enhance

communication between employees and arouse organization awareness.

Relationship Building Example Daily supervision

Building closer working

relationship between employees

and managers. Let supervisor be

a part of the group. Avoiding

cheating with closer supervision.

CONCLUSION

MORE MOTIVATI

ON

MORE COMMITE

NT

BETTER OUTCOME

S

LESS CHEATING

CONCLUSION

LESS CHEATING

BETTER WORK

ENVIRONMENT

LESS CONTROL,

MORE GUIDANCE

LISTENING TO IMPROVE

“

”

While a person who cheats at work may get the money, they are really cheating themselves out of what could be a great experience

Ben Michaelis, PHDHuffington Post