When Guilt Fuels Growth: How Religious Faith Turns Incivility Into Better Performance

What is it about?

This study explores the surprising possibility that employees who engage in instigated incivility—rude or disrespectful behavior toward others—may subsequently show improved job performance, both in their assigned tasks and in discretionary efforts. Guided by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the authors propose that such behaviors can trigger feelings of guilt, motivating perpetrators to restore their self-image and regain lost psychological resources through greater work effort and helpful actions. Using three-wave, multisource data from employees and supervisors in Pakistan, the study finds that guilt expression mediates the positive link between instigated incivility and job performance. Employees who act uncivilly often compensate by working harder or taking on extra tasks to relieve guilt. This effect is stronger among highly religious employees, whose faith heightens moral awareness and the drive for restitution, turning guilt into motivation for improved performance. For organizations, these findings illustrate that even negative workplace behaviors can lead to unexpected positive outcomes when employees possess strong moral or spiritual convictions. Managers should foster an environment that encourages ethical reflection and emotional regulation, helping employees channel guilt productively without normalizing incivility.

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Photo by Imran Molla on Unsplash

Photo by Imran Molla on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is unique in shifting attention from the victims to the perpetrators of incivility, showing that guilt can act as a self-corrective mechanism that enhances performance. It also highlights religious faith as a crucial moderator that amplifies the moral and motivational effects of guilt, integrating ethical and spiritual dimensions into COR theory. Conducted in Pakistan, where religion deeply informs moral reasoning and workplace behavior, the study is timely in revealing how faith-based values can guide employees toward self-improvement after ethical lapses. It underscores that fostering moral awareness and reflective leadership can help organizations convert interpersonal missteps into opportunities for personal and collective growth.