Like clockwork: A within-person analysis of time theft in the workplace

Employee time theft is a silent and costly behavior that is difficult to manage in organizations. Time theft is less understood than other forms of deviance as it is engaged in more frequently and considered to be less harmful by those who engage in it. This study tests a within-person model of time theft in which negative emotion mediates the positive relationship between job stressors (task ambiguity, task conflict) and time theft. Results show support for the mediating role of emotions in the positive stressor−time theft relationship at the within-person level. Results also show that high levels of between-person emotional stability weakened the impact of negative emotions on time theft. These results indicate that job related stressors create an environment in which time theft may become a frequent behavior. In discussing these results, we provide recommendations for employers to combat this phenomenon.