Who’s your Daddy? Addressing Nepotism from a Cultural Perspective

Abstract

Counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) have the potential to be extremely costly and thus present a threat to organizational success. This study focused on one particular CWB, nepotism, the practice of giving preferential treatment to undeserving family or friends in the workplace.6 Despite the potential loss associated with nepotism, research addressing its antecedents has been scarce. Using an adaptation of the theory of planned behavior2 (TPB) as a theoretical framework, the present study investigated how culture impacts nepotism, and how attitude mediates this relationship. Results suggest that culture plays an important role when making decisions about tolerating nepotism in organizations. This information may be useful for managing a multicultural work force, setting culturally-appropriate policies, and may provide expatriate managers valuable insight.