Psychological Entitlement and Moral Disengagement as Antecedents of Compliance with COVID-19 Workplace Safety Protocols and the Moderating Role of Moral Identity

Abstract

In an effort to aid the reopening of workplaces and curb the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States of America issued a set of guidelines for COVID-19. While the importance of these measures has been touted, studies focusing on antecedents of compliance with workplace safety guidelines, including those of COVID-19, are at a nascent stage. The current research draws on social cognitive theory to investigate the effect of psychological entitlement on adherence to COVID-19 workplace safety protocols. Specifically, the present study proposes that psychological entitlement increases one's tendency for moral disengagement, which subsequently reduces compliance with COVID-19 workplace safety protocols. Consistent with social cognitive theory, the study further proposes moral identity as a conditional moderator in mitigating the proposed relationships. The current study finds general support for the hypothesized moderated mediation model by employing multi-wave data collected from various organizations in the United States (N = 351). Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future research directions, are discussed.