If your boss is pleasant one day, but lashes out the next, they may suffer from a phenomenon known as moral licensing.
Researchers found that if a boss acts in an ethical way, they feel this good behaviour gives them a pass to mistreat employees.
And walking the straight line also causes ego depletion, which researchers say can be combated by taking regular breaks during the day.
'In the workplace, for example, it has been found that acting consistent with rules and norms pertaining to procedural fairness and vigilantly monitoring for potential problems are especially depleting,' explained the study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
'Once depleted, people's capacity to exert self-control on subsequent activities is severely limited, thereby increasing the likelihood that they will succumb to temptations and aggressive impulses.'
Although ego depletion is a quick fix, researchers from Michigan State University say 'dealing with moral licensing is trickier'.
This concept is an idea that people feel they have earned the right to act in a negative manner after doing something good.
'Ironically, when leaders felt mentally fatigued and morally licensed after displays of ethical behavior, they were more likely to be abusive toward their subordinates on the next day,' said Russell Johnson, associate professor of management at Michigan State University, in a recent press release.
The study explains two reason for bosses to exhibit moral licensing.
'First, displaying morally laudable behavior is a way for people to accumulate moral credits.'
And the second reason is, 'displaying morally laudable behavior can also bestow on actors the credentials of having a commendable moral self-regard.'
<<Print>>