Organizational Deviance

Organizational deviance is defined as voluntary actions that violate significant organizational norms as prescribed by formal and informal policies, rules, and procedures and that, in doing so, threaten the well-being or reputation of the organization and/or its members. Examples of organizational deviance include lying, stealing, voluntary absenteeism, sabotage, fraud, corruption, and even violence in the workplace. Research indicates that a significant percentage of employees have engaged in or been a victim of organizational deviance. Deviant behavior within an organization can have financial implications as well as affect the reputations of the individual leaders of the corporation and the corporation itself. Three determinants of employee deviance—personality, justice, and leadership—are also discussed.

Workplace deviance prevails in society and has garnered significant media attention. It can be seen from ...