Observed Unethical Behavior at Work and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: Evidence of Validity of the Measures

Ethical behavior in organizations refers to actions guided by social and moral norms that define what is considered appropriate conduct in the workplace. Unethical behavior, on the other hand, can have negative impacts on both employees and the organization, and therefore must be strategically and continuously identified, monitored, and addressed by managers. This study aimed to find validity evidence for the Brazilian Portuguese versions of two instruments: the Observed Unethical Behavior in Organizations Scale (7 items) and the Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior Scale (6 items). The instruments were administered online to a sample of 1,219 employees (628 men; mean age = 41.59 years, SD = 13.05). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original one-factor structure of each scale, with satisfactory internal consistency. These instruments can support organizational diagnosis by assessing employees’ perceptions of unethical behaviors in the workplace, thereby informing managerial and human resources practices aimed at preventing and reducing unethical conduct within organizations.