Background

This is a pilot of an experimental manipulation of CWV in the workplace.

Participants were shown the following:

We have previously asked participants on Connect to describe their workplace and an episode involving their manager. Today, we will show you a response from one participant and ask for your thoughts about it.

We first asked participants to describe the general atmosphere of their workplace. In the following page is what one participant wrote:

HIGH CWV CONDITION:
Where I work is pretty cut throat and competitive. you cant trust anybody, sometimes it feels like you gotta do whatever you gotta do to get ahead. success is all about manipulation and taking advantage of others, knowing how to play the game better than everyone else.

LOW CWV CONDITION:
Where I work is pretty supportive. you can really trust other people and it feels like other people trust you. the people who get ahead are collaborative and honest.it’s a culture of cooperation, people go out of their way to help each other. success is all about teamwork.

Then, participants completed workplace version of CWV, as a manipulation check.

Then, they reflected on how they would behave in this workplace:

Try to picture yourself in this workplace. Imagine being in this environment day after day, relating to coworkers in this way.

In the space below, please write 1-2 sentences about how you would act (competitively or cooperatively) toward your coworkers in this workplace environment.

[OPEN RESPONSE]

Then, they read:

We asked the same participants to describe a specific episode in which their manager wanted to get an employee to perform a task at work.

The same participant went on to describe the following episode:

One time, at work, my manager told my coworker to stay late and fix a report that the coworker had created which had an error in it. he told the manager that he had plans and he didnt want to do it.the manager got really serious and was like… this report is overdue… if you can’t fix your mistake, I may need to reconsider my approval of your upcoming PTO.

Then, participants completed the following measures: Open response of relationship impact, relationship impact, compliance impact, and several measures of hypothetical behavior as the manager.

Demographics

Race

race N Perc
asian 11 9.09
black 20 16.53
hispanic 8 6.61
multiracial 5 4.13
white 74 61.16
NA 3 2.48

Gender

gender N Perc
man 62 51.24
woman 57 47.11
NA 2 1.65

Age

age_mean age_sd
36.94958 10.08762

Education

edu N Perc
GED 26 21.49
2yearColl 11 9.09
4yearColl 59 48.76
MA 16 13.22
PHD 9 7.44

Income

Measures

Open responses

Reflection on workplace environment

PID cond reflection
1 high I smiled at everyone and was nice to every single person, even those I did not particularly like. I did my work, didn’t bother anyone and focused solely on my tasks at hand.
2 high I would act cooperatively with my coworkers. I don’t want there to be strife between my coworkers and I. I would be nice and helpful.
3 low In the workplace described, I would be happy to work cooperatively with my colleagues. I would be very likely to be helpful and accommodating, knowing that it is the culture of the workplace to get the same in return. I would be happy to be a part of this workplace.
4 high I am already a competitive person, but my work would speak for itself. I would simply be better than everyone else
5 low I think this is a good policy. I would absolutely be cooperative with my co-workers.
6 low I would act cooperatively with my coworkers to help both myself and the business succeed. I would also casually observe other’s interactions to learn how to be more successful.
7 low I would try to be there for my co-workers, in the hopes they would be there for me should I need assistance. I would do my best to contribute to the culture already in place.
8 high I’d feel very much so out of place in an environment like this. I’d do my best to be a good example and show everyone that there is another way besides being cut-throat. I’d try and lead a new way forward that doesn’t require the workplace culture to be toxic.
9 high Honestly, from what I read, I would not survive in this work-place. I am not and have never been a “shark.” Even when I was working in commission, I always did my job with compassion and cooperation with my coworkers.
10 low I would do my best to try to help my colleagues when I have downtime or I see them struggling.
11 low I have a feeling I would really enjoy working here. I would cooperate with everyone and try to be as helpful as possible. You end up kind of absorbing the culture that you’re in and this one sounds like a very positive culture
12 low I would act fairly and in the way I would hope my coworkers treated me. I would ensure my end of responsibilities was always completed so as not to affect my coworkers. I would assist if possible when needed and would assume my coworkers would be willing to assist as well.
13 low i would act as cooperatively as possible so that things run smoothly and we have good performance.
14 high I would stand my ground and make sure that I’m not being taken advantage of.
15 low I would act cooperatively because that’s the best way to get ahead! Being honest and open to solve problems together is going to get me farther in this company.
16 high I would come into work, stressed about my day here. I would not be able to trust my coworkers and only be able to trust and rely on myself.
17 high First, I would hate to work in this environment. If I had to, I would adopt the prevailing norms, which means being ruthless in order to maintain my position and get ahead. I don’t think I would intentionally undermine anyone, but I also would cooperate or share ideas.
18 low It seems very collaborative, where people support each other and actually want to see one another succeed. It seems like coworkers can help each other out and share ideas, which is great for a productive and inclusive environment.
19 low I would work cooperatively with my coworkers to complete tasks, often asking for their input and opinions to produce the best result possible.
20 high I do not think that I would be warm to coworkers in this environment. I would keep my cards close to my chest and not let others know how I am truly feeling. I would keep most of my ideas to myself.
21 low I would try to cooperate with other team members. I would feel comfortable sharing my ideas with my team.
22 low I would definitely try and cooperate with my co workers. They seem to embrace that culture.
23 high Working in this environment would make me uncomfortable but if I wanted to succeed I would need to adapt. I would keep to myself, not socialize or try to make friends, work as hard as I could, and try to be competitive.
24 low I would be very cooperative in a workplace like the one previously described. I would make sure to take care of my coworkers and support them however possible, anticipating that they would do the same for me. This sounds like an ideal workplace.
25 high I would be miserable at this workplace, as I am not competitive and I hate confronting anyone. I would likely just keep to myself and be kind to my coworkers when I can, all the while knowing it wouldn’t be helping me to get ahead or put me in line for any promotions.
26 low I would thrive in a collaborative environment where people are able to express themselves and their creative ideas freely.
27 high I would probably volunteer for difficult tasks to stand out.
28 low In this workplace, I would act cooperatively, always striving to share insights and collaborate with my coworkers to achieve shared goals. I believe that working together and supporting each other leads to better results and a more positive work environment.
29 low I believe that I would get along great with everyone. As yes, we might be in competition a little bit at times, I believe that we would all see that we are all on the same team with the same goals.
30 low I would act very nice and diligent toward my coworkers as they would to me also
31 high I would play the game just like everyone else and do whatever I had to do to get through the day. I would still be myself and cordial to all my coworkers though no matter how they acted towards me.
32 high I am not a very competitive person so this environment would not work for me.
33 high Amidst the competitive nature of the workplace, I’d need to identify areas that could help me grow professionally. This might be doing work and taking tasks that aren’t so related to my current role, but would help me in the future for when I’d eventually be able to leave that toxicity.
34 high Since I’m not a competitive person at work, I would try my best to just keep my head down and work without bringing attention to myself. I would try to get along with my colleagues as best I can and not cause any problems.
35 low In this workplace I would be very welcoming. I would make an effort to get to know my co-workers on a personal level. I would also offer my talents and services to help with any of their tasks. I would also ask for help from fellow teammembers even if I do not need it. This is a place that values teamwork and collaboratve efforts so I would do everything to show that I am a team player.
36 high I would act extremely competitively. I would keep information to myself, as information is key to success in these environments. I would also do whatever I need to do to manipulate people and get ahead.
37 low I would be the most ferocious and vicious employee in this office. I would dominate all of these cooperative types with my might and rise to the pinnacle of the corporate ladder.
38 low I would work based on merit in order to prove my strong points. In a dog eat dog world you have to prove your worth.
39 high I would be extremely competitive in this workplace. I would be polite to my coworkers but I would constantly be looking for an edge.
40 high I would definitely act cooperatively, because I’m not an assertive person and a total pushover. I would likely be the one taken advantage of.
41 high I would share very little about myself but try to learn as much as I can about others. I would leverage that information to my advantage.
42 high I would act very reserved and keep emotions to myself. I would have to go in with a strong emotions to work with these people everyday.
43 low I would treat all coworkers equally, showing them the respect that I expect in return. I would act cooperatively with them.
44 high I am not sure I could take having to watch my back while I stabbed others every day. I would have to try but being this cutthroat would wear me down.
45 high I would probably have to really use my acting skills so I can lie to their faces whenever necessary. I might even not like some of them but would have to pretend like I do even if they’ve done me wrong, in order to try to get ahead. I would be cordial and polite to their faces.
46 high I would do my best to maintain my moral principles and values. however, I would take into consideration the need to adapt to my surroundings because I wouldn’t want to get swallowed up by the beast that is this company.
47 high I’m afraid I would probably not last long in this type of workplace. I’m real and I’m soft-hearted and I don’t lie so I would have alot of mental stress that would inhibit me from being productive. I would not be able to work alongside of people who I know would lie or cheat so I would probably be competitive, in the sense that I would try to do it right, knowing they would likely lie or cheat and I would be out. I would still know I did the right thing in my heart. So that’s ok.
48 low I would try and act cooperatively with my co-workers because, in the long run, that gives better results and people tend to work better and more fluid together. Being competitive often leads to people treating each other like crap and the entire thing burns down.
49 low it does not sound like a toxic environment so i would act cooperatiively towards my coworkers and i pretty much believe it is going to be a great experience
50 high I would act cooperatively towards my coworkers, but I would also be looking to get out of this workplace as soon as possible.
51 low In this workplace I would definitely work cooperatively with everyone and try to get along. This workplace seems very positive and helping each other out is the best way to succeed and move forward day to day.
52 low I would act cooperatively toward my coworkers because they are very supportive
53 low On a day to day basis we have to put our differences to the side and be cordial with one another while we work.
54 low I think working in this workplace would be great. I think I would like it because it seems that I would be able to get along with my coworkers and I would feel that my coworkers care about me and would help me and want me to succeed
55 low This is the best work environment. A lot will be achieved as a result of their co-operation.
56 low If I had this supportive work environment I think I’d feel at ease most of the time. I would be honest and act like my professional self at work. I’d express my thoughts and feelings and openly seek to collaborate with coworkers.
57 high I would try to work together and get the work done. If it became too outrageous, I would find another job.
58 high I would be greatly displeased with this type of work environment. I would be interacting with coworkers as little as possible, and likely seeking alternative employment.
59 high Due to the nature of the workplace, i’ll be competitive with my coworkers. Being the best amongst my peers will be my mandate and goal.
60 low I would try to collaborate with others frequently. It seems like a great place to work. I would appreciate that everyone is honest with each other and teamwork is encouraged.
61 high I would be as encouraging and compassionate as possible. I would lend an ear to my co-workers and try to make the workplace as pleasant as possible. All in hopes of uplifting their spirits so that they are able to maintain composure and carry on to the end of each day. I’m a competitive person, but not to the extent that I would stab people in the back or be cruel to them in other ways. I don’t lie. I pray for strength to hold on to who I am and my moral compass.
62 high This workplace is very toxic. i would not want to be in this kind of work environment
63 high To maintain an advatage ithe most “honest” way possible would be my approach. I would wothhold ather than lie. I would avoid the worst of the group and work very hard to protect my “stuff” and leads - if it were sales - I would not talk about what I am doing or how I do things.
64 high I would definitely find my competitive side coming out, which isn’t the best side of me. I think this would negatively harm how I see myself.
65 high I would not thrive in this competitive workplace. I prefer cooperation and helpfulness as a means to get ahead. I would probably be very stressed out working there, never knowing who to trust. I would probably be extra nice to everyone to make sure people were kind back.
66 high I would lie to my coworkers to get them to do what benefits me. I would worry only about myself and not what is best for them or for the team. My mindset would be one of “if I don’t advocate for myself, nobody will”
67 high I wouldn’t work in a place like that - cut throat and lying and manipulation. Nope, not gonna hang in an environment like that. No one is forced to work anywhere here in the US. If you don’t like your job, you can go find another one. I wouldn’t lie, I would be a light in such a dark place. In a constant swirl of truth versus lie, I would establish myself as a bastion of truth and honesty, stability and sanity.
68 high It’s kind of a weird situation for me because I am really competitive but at the same time I’m not really a mean person who likes to take advantage of others. I think I would figure out a way to survive and get ahead without hurting too many people that would be the ideal situation for myself. I’m not sure I could pull it off but if I could that would be the way I would go about it. But if it came down to it And it was me or somebody else that had to stay or go then I would do whatever I had to do to make sure it was me that stayed
69 low I would feel supported and encouraged by other employees so would want to do the same for my employees within my workplace.
70 high I would be polite and friendly, however, still would compete. I wouldn’t do anything dishonest, however, because integrity is important. There are always ways to outwork people without cheating.
71 high I would always have one eye looking behind me, and be really careful with trusting other employees.
72 low If I had a more collaborative and trusting work culture, I think I would put a lot of effort into really understanding the needs of my team and also working with them at a personal level.
73 high I would look for any competitive edge and if it meant I had to throw andother co worker under the bus then I would do it. I would see my co workers as people who are in the way of getting what I want.
74 low I would cooperate with all my coworkers since its a place where everyone works together. I would feel that if I don’t cooperate, then I do not feel a part of the team.
75 high I would keep to myself. In fact, I’ve always felt its a good practice to keep “somewhat” to yourself at work. There’s an old saying “Don’t Xxit where you eat.”
76 low In this environment, I would act cooperatively with other team.members for the betterment of the company
77 high I would act competitively if that was the work place environment to begin with, although I do not agree with it.
78 low In this supportive workplace environment, I would prioritize cooperative behavior by actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with my coworkers, sharing knowledge and resources to achieve shared goals.
79 high I would hate working in this environment so I would try to make changes if possible to make it more cooperative than it was before. I think by acting kind to other coworkers and consistently achieving at a high level you could make some dents into the otherwise toxic work environment.
80 low This place seems to work well in teams. I would work cooperatively with my team, we would get the job done together. Everyone is on the same page, so the end game is to complete our work.
81 low As someone who has worked in a similar environment, everyone was friendly and willing to help if you needed help with something. There is no reason to act competitively towards coworkers. I would act as I normally would in that environment, friendly with everybody but I’m careful to not share any information I would want spread around because a lot of times you don’t know who you can trust even though it seems like you can.
82 high In the workplace environment, i would to act cooperatively toward my workers.
83 high I would bring people snacks and try to get to know them, commiserate about projects and life, but put on my professional “masculine” persona that I used for the Marines and antique car acquisitions so they don’t think I’m easy to treat poorly.
84 high If I was in an overly hostile and competitive work environment, I would feel the need to keep with how everyone else at the job is behaving and follow along in order not get left behind. I would like try to get on the good side of someone in a supervisory position if that would be beneficial to my role and survival in the company.
85 low I’ll always be on guard and be careful who I make friends with.
86 low In this working environment, I would try to cooperate with my colleagues because teamwork helps people get promoted.
87 high I will perform my duties and stick to my working hours.
88 low In times of doubt, fall back to the “Golden Rule.” That would, at least, be my game plan, as it’s the way I’ve comported myself for most of my life now. It is my earnest desire to live in a polite society, held together by a genuine sincerity of compassion. To this point, another trite but true aphorism rears its head and staunchly declares: “be the change you want to see in the world.”
89 low I think I would be happy to work in this environment, it sounds like the way to succeed in this work place is to get along well with other people which is very important to me. I would feel less afraid asking for help than a more competitive workplace where there is less emphasis on supporting each other, and would feel closer to my colleagues than if we were competing to outdo each other. I would behave very cooperatively in this environment.
90 high I would do anything to please my coworkers and my supervisor. I would be nice to them in front of their face but probably find things they did wrong and reporting it behind their backs.
91 low I would act toward my coworker as positively as they act toward me.
92 low In this supportive workplace , I would embrace a corporate mindset, actively collaborating with my coworkers and offering assistance whenever needed. I believe that fostering trust and teamwork leads to collective success and a positive work atmosphere.
93 low I would try my best to cooperate with everyone and also balance it with a bit of competition
94 low I would look forward to working with my colleagues in such a supportive workplace as the one described. I would listen closely to them, try to understand what their needs are, and I would want to help them attain their goals. I would do this with the hope that when I ask for help, they would in turn do their best to assist me in reaching my goals.
95 low I would work in a supportive manner. I would give support and in turn expect it. I would be honest and work hard. I would be truthful whether it is good or bad in order tor grow both personally and with the company/team.
96 low Like said before this workplace is very supportive. I would be very friendly with my coworkers helping them when needed and feeling free to ask for help when needed.
97 low I would work cooperatively with coworkers in this environment and see how my skills could help the team succeed.
98 high I would work cooperatively with my coworkers, helping when needed and sharing ideas to make things run smoothly. But if a chance to stand out or compete in a healthy way comes up, I’d push myself to do better.
99 low Being in this workspace environment day after day, I would cooperate with the workers on general ethics and group work. I would be a team player, and act accordingly with each worker.
100 high I would be cordial and polite to coworkers but have to hold things close to my chest. I would feel very fake when I’m being nice to coworkers because I think they are all just out to get me.
101 high I would put conscious effort into dehumanizing my coworkers, so that I could better compete against them. One way I might do this is remind myself that they are not my friends, they are my enemies, as far as my career prospects are concerned.
102 high I think I’d be pretty guarded given the competitive environment where everyone’s looking for an edge.
103 high I would likely act competitively in the workplace - always trying to get ahead. I would want the upper management to see my value and do things specifically to get their attention regardless of the impact on my coworkers.
104 low In this environment, I would act friendly and diligent with my co-workers. The environment would be conducive for productivity.
105 high I wouldn’t trust anyone. I would try to be competitive as I could.
106 low I would try to help my coworkers out as much as I can, and I’d make sure to encourage them and collaborate on tasks with them. If someone needs help, I’ll be sure to stop what I’m doing and try to help them.
107 high I am really going to be on my own and relate when it is necessary or extremely important
108 low I would work cooperatively in this workplace and want to help others. I wouldn’t do well in a competitive atmosphere so this workplace would be ideal for my personality.
109 low I would act friendly towards my coworkers and support them in their work so they will support me in return.
110 low I’ve worked in an environment like this before. And it was, by far, more of a cooperative rather than a competitive one. Most of the employees in our group would always go out of their way to help each other. And it wasn’t for the company, it was for each other. Most of us thought of it as just a job, so there wasn’t really any loyalty to the company. But we definitely looked out for each other.
111 high My day to day in my workplace would literally depend on a possible cooperative relationship with my coworkers if truly I care bout our Goals and for personality sake, being loved is the best way to achieve goals in a known competitive workplace like mine, this I have learned from experience. And stylish competition would be my style in the sense of letting my skills, experience and action speak for me. I am definitely not ready to be kicked around nor be peoples pleaser.
112 high I would not share a lot about myself. I would be there to work and get my stuff done. I would not go out of my way to be helpful.
113 high I would do everything within my morals to gain competitive advantages with my coworkers. I would be friendly when needed and unfriendly if I could get ahead or get a promotion.
114 low In this workplace environment, I would strive to foster a cooperative atmosphere by actively supporting my coworkers, sharing ideas, and collaborating on projects. By prioritizing teamwork over competition, I believe we can achieve greater success and create a more positive work culture for everyone.
115 low I would help them out whenever I could. I expect they would do the same for me if I was in a bind and needed some help, so I’d have no problem helping them (I wouldn’t worry they would refuse to help me later on, in other words, even though I’d been nice and helped them.)
116 low In this workplace, as any other I work in, I would be collaborative and focus on the greater good instead of just my own accomplishments. I would cheer on my teammates and I would expect them to do for me.
117 high I would feel that I am there simply for myself. It is a dog eat dog world in this business and I will do whatever needed to protect myself. I am not here to please others.
118 high I would be very close to the vest with my work and my opinions throughout the day. My pace would be at my desk and I would not engage in small talk with others. I would make sure that my boss knows all that I am doing and keep him informed on what others are not doing!
119 high This environment would cause me to act on the defensive all the time.
120 low This sounds like a great place to work. Working together as a team to achieve a common goal is admirable. I am a helper, so I would feel comfortable working with people who are also cooperative and helpful.
121 low In this workplace i would act cooperatively and foster strong relationships with my coworkers

Impact on employee

PID cond impact_open
1 high Nothing, since the manager has all of the power in the situation. The worker stayed late and missed their plans.
2 high I think nothing happened. I think the coworker decided to do the report that was overdue so they could go on vacation.
3 low I think in this case, the manager’s implied threat that the employee’s PTO was in jeopardy would probably be enough incentive for the employee to stay late and finish the report. I think it sets a bad example as a manager though, and seems out of sync with the workplace described earlier.
4 high The worker probably stayed late but will no longer respect that manager. His overall work will not improve and may get worse.
5 low Absolutely nothing happened to the manager. In some workplaces this is normal manger behavior.
6 low I think the coworker would have felt disrespected and resentful, and while they might have finished that report they would be very upset with their manager in the future, maybe not working as hard or looking for a new job.
7 low I would hope the employee would seek help from other employees and HR. I would think they would find this unacceptable.
8 high I think the worker stayed late and finished the report. It’s a clear case of retaliation for not doing exactly what the manager wanted.
9 high I think this is incredibly unprofessional. To approve paid time off and then use it as ammunition to get them to stay late has got to be illegal, right?
10 low The worker probably stayed late to fix the error report or maybe they even quit the job.
11 low I can’t imagine too many people were very impressed with that behavior. I know that if I was in that situation I would say the PTO’s happening whether you want it to or not. So I’d imagine that in a culture of cooperation there’d be a lot of people backing up that employee
12 low I imagine the worker would be shocked at the threat from the manager. I believe the worker would have completed the task and possibly later looked into reporting the manager for the behavior.
13 low i think the manager was likely reported to HR and faced probationary actions as the worker was treated quite unfairly.
14 high The worker did the work due to the fact that it would cost them more to lose their upcoming pto than an hour now.
15 low woah that was really intense. I think the worker probably was upset and hurt by the comments. That’s not a cooperative environment at all. I think the manager was probably shunned when others heard of this behavior.
16 high In this work, the worker would do as the manager told them to do and stay to work overtime instead of going to HR to report this sort of behavior and leaving work early.
17 high I think the worker stayed late and fixed the report with the error. As for the manager, nothing negative happened to them.
18 low The worker likely felt threatened and had to stay overtime, possibly without pay, to keep in the manager’s good graces and keep their upcoming PTO. This seems much different then the other description of the workplace.
19 low The worker was most likely upset and no longer trusts the manager to have their best interests in mind.
20 high I think that this person probably went to HR about their manager as threatening to take away PTO can be seen as a conflict of interest.
21 low The worker will do the work to avoid the consequences. They will be afraid of their manager.
22 low If i was the worker, i would have fixed the report, but reported the managers threats to HR.
23 high The worker probably refused to resubmit the report and was penalized because of it.
24 low I am sure that the manager experienced no consequences in this scenario. If anything, I would imagine that the worker would be closely watched by the manager moving forward in order to “catch” more mistakes. This is incredibly toxic. If I was in this situation, I would immediately begin to look for a new job.
25 high I think the worker was likely upset and frustrated, but felt like they had no choice and ended up staying to correct their work in order to be able to get their PTO approved.
26 low The employee may have felt attacked. However, the manager did the right thing and stood their ground.
27 high Perhaps this generated animosity towards the manager, where the employee feels unappreciated and oppressed.
28 low I’m definitely sure the worker became scared, apologized and fixed the error.
29 low I think that the employee decided to go ahead, stay and get it done. I don’t think that the employee was happy about it at all but I think that they would get it completed.
30 low I think the employee would be very furious considering it was unplanned
31 high I don’t think much happened as a consequence. The manager was just being honest and truthful about the employees upcoming PTO.
32 high The employee most likely stayed later so that they did not get their vacation plans taken away
33 high The worker would have likely stayed and completed the report. The fear alone is enough to make most employees bow the their supervisor’s every order.
34 high I bet the worker decided to stay and fix the error on the report. The worker probably didn’t want to compromise their ability to take PTO.
35 low I would assume that the worker ended up staying late to fix the error due to the threat from the mananger about not approving his PTO request. I think that this created some negative feelings for the worker towards his manager.
36 high I think the worker would stay to complete the report. Otherwise, I think the worker would quit his job in response to the threat to take way PTO.
37 low I think the manager was terminated from his position. The worker was relieved.
38 low I think that the employee did not perform up to par, and was given ample opportunity to provide work. This could have been avoided if the assignment was provided ahead.
39 high The manager probably didnt have to deal with any consequences to be honest.
40 high In ideal world the worker would report the manager to HR, and the manager would at least receive a warning that this behavior is not ok. Most likely though, the worker buckled under the threat and stayed late to fix the report. And there were no consequences for the manager.
41 high My guess is that the threat worked, and the employee stayed late. The cost was that the worker soured further on the manager and the job.
42 high The worker finished the work needed by the manager so they upset them.
43 low I think the manager was acting fair towards the situation and the worker should have stayed later to fix their mistake and not risk losing their PTO.
44 high I think that the worker would have been scared into fixing the error. The worker would be to afraid of losing paid time off.
45 high I think that the coworker probably ended up redoing the report to appease the manager.
46 high I feel like the worker ended up biting the bullet. depending on the type of employee they were, they probably could’ve ignored the manager and considered contacting HR about the disagreement.
47 high The worker probably stayed and finished the task and never reported it. So this worker likely had to continue to deal with this manager and their threats.
48 low In the employee’s shoes, I would have went ahead and take my PTO and turned the manager in to HR or higher leadership. The employee and that person’s life comes first and I am sure someone else could resolve the issue.
49 low the worker will have to fix it , and he has to take responsibility for his actions. it is only fair
50 high I think the worker most likely stayed to fix the report, but was probably very angry about it.
51 low In my opinion this seems like a fair request from the supervisor. If the worker did not complete their report properly by the time it was due it is their responsimelody to fix the report and have it turned in in a time. It would have been a better situation if the employee just did the report correctly the first time.
52 low I think the coworker fixed the report and did a better job
53 low They should have a meeting to work the problem out.
54 low Well I think what this manager did is very wrong and I would hope that he got punished for what he did. Holding pto over an employees head like that is wrong and should be a gross violation of a workplace policy so i hope the manager got reprimanded.
55 low The worker has to fix the error regardless of whether it is convenient for him or not.
56 low The worker probably felt like crap and threatened. He probably was upset but ultimately stayed to fix the issue so that his PTO wasnt compromised. That sucks
57 high The may have stayed to correct the error in the report. However, I’m sure this worker began to look for another job.
58 high If I had to guess, the employee likely stayed late to fix their mistake. The manager unfortunately holds the power.
59 high I believe the worker had no choice but to stay back and fix the error since.
60 low The manager probably had no consequences. The worker likely stayed late and fixed the report. Hopefully the worker notified someone else about the threat, but I’m not confident the manager would have been punished.
61 high I don’t believe anything happened to the manager because, unfortunately, this is a common behavior for some in charge. I believe the worker, although upset by this, probably stayed late and corrected their error. I also don’t believe it is unjust of the manager to ask them to correct their error. I just think they could have spoken to the employee differently and not made a threat.
62 high The manager should be punished for this behavior. I would not want to work for a manager like that.
63 high I think the worker would have caved in and completed their task to protect their upcoming PTO, weighing the best outcome would be to give u-p the one night against the PTO. The manager was acting within the normd of the company so nothing happened to them
64 high I’m sure the worker was very upset but stayed late to do the task out of fear of losing his PTO.
65 high The worker is probably scared of the manager now and knows that they have little power in the workplace. The manager seems really tough and not understanding. The manager does not allow for a good work life balance.
66 high I think the worker probably stayed late and honored the managers request because the worker did not want to lose their upcoming PTO.
67 high The employee should’ve fixed thier mistake. That’s the thing about honesty. If that employee submitted an erroneous report, then it is on that employee to fix it. I sense in this scenario the manager is being demonized as the bad guy… Sure, throwing out a threat to a PTO request is a low-IQ, uninspiring way to lead people and that manager should know better. However, we need to be sure we don’t get it twisted. That employee had a job to do by submitting that report, if the job wasn’t done correctly, it is that employee’s responsibilty to make their work right. In no way should that be overlooked. Just because the manager did something that isn’t great by threatening the employee’s PTO request, we cannot lose sight of what this whole discussion is about, the fact that the employee turned in bad work.
68 high I’m not really sure anything would happen to the manager If it was something that needed to be done and wasn’t done when it was supposed to be done on company time etc I don’t see how His response could be any different to the employee If it needs to be done you need to stay and do it until It’s done. It’s hard to say how The threat would be perceived by upper management because I don’t know the policies etc at this particular company.
69 low I think as a consequence, the employee stopped working as hard and didn’t have as much buy into the company because they were not met with respect and care.
70 high Hopefully he was reprimanded. The manager was targeting the employee by threatening to not approve his PTO.
71 high The worker stayed to fix the report but had harsher feelings towards the manager after that. The worker may not be as tied to the organization anymore and keeping their eyes open for another job opportunity.
72 low The worker was probably really upset about this and lost respect for the boss.
73 high I think the manager denied his PTO anyway. The worker was really aggravated by it. The manager will probably find other ways to punish the worker fo being a “bad” worker.
74 low I think the coworker decided to not fix it and left, leaving the manager to handle it themself. The manager reject the worker’s approval for a promotion and the worker was very upset by this, that they might even consider leaving the company.
75 high Nothing, sure it’s somewhat threatening behavior, the employee should have completed the report earlier. Now that the employee has a vacation should be of no concern. Basically, grow up and get your work done like an adult.
76 low The worker should have sensed the seriousness from the manager and worked to fix their error
77 high I think if the worker decided to not stay late and fix the error, the manager would take away the workers PTO. I think the worker would be very upset, and might reconsider their job.
78 low The managers behavior likely fostered a strong sense of trust and camaraderie among team members, promoting an atmosphere where open communication and collaboration thrive.
79 high I would imagine that he just stayed after being threatened with losing his job. However, he probably resented his manager after that and was less motivated to perform at a high level.
80 low I would think the worker would report the manager for unethical behavior. The worker was probably mad and upset. The work wasn’t the worker’s and they’re not obligated to fix it. The worker probably told the manager that they aren’t obligated to do it.
81 low I don’t believe a manager can demand someone to stay outside of normal work hours. If the employee reported the manager to a superior or HR, I’m sure they would get in trouble especially blackmailing with PTO approval. The worker probably felt threatened and anxious about potentially losing their job.
82 high The targeted worker likely felt demoralized and undervalued due to the manager.
83 high The worker probably acted juvenile, since they were already, being argumentative and whiny and talking about how unfair it was that they can’t go to recess without doing their homework, and gossiped like a mollycoddled whinerpup.
84 high Depending on the worker’s conviction, he may have likely stayed behind to fix his mistakes in order to get his future pto approved.
85 low He would feel dejected in that moment. I believe he’ll try to finish his task.
86 low In my place, workers are more protected than manager. So, the worker will get pissed off and report the behavior of the manager to the manager’s boss.
87 high The manager was harsh on the worker. The worker might not be happy.
88 low To take the wind out of your employee’s proverbial sails like so, is to cut into your own work efficiency. While an appropriate reprimanding certainly has its place, one must always keep the big picture in mind, most especially when on a team, and that is the accomplishment of whatever the team’s stated goal from the onset of their endeavoring may be.
89 low It is hard to say without knowing the companies policies, but I would like to hope that the employee pushed back on this and told the manager that it is likely unlawful to threaten rescinding approved PTO as a consequence of not staying late, which I also don’t think employers are allowed to compel employees to do. If this was reported to upper management by the employee I hope that the manager was reprimanded for this threat.
90 high The worker stayed later and cancelled their plans to fix the report. They didn’t want to lose their upcoming PTO
91 low I think the manager’s behavior would make the coworker do a better job
92 low The worker likely felt stressed and undervalued, experiencing frustration over the ultimatum. This could lead to diminished motivation and trust in the manager’s support and decision making.
93 low he would lose the trust of the worker and ultimately the others as well
94 low I think the worker would be offended by the manager’s threat to take away PTO. The manager is not acting in the spirit of the supportive atmosphere established by the culture of the workplace. The worker would be angry. The worker may agree to the manager’s ultimatum, but they would lost trust in their manager as a result of the manager’s threat.
95 low I imagine the worker complied with the request in order to maintain the PTO request. I do believe however the employee is not in a toxic work environment and will begin to explore different options.
96 low I think a consequence to the manager’s behavior is other who heard about the situation would think of that manager as controlling and abusing power. I also think that manager probably was reported to higher ups. The worker’s reaction was telling the manager that he could not do because they already had plans.
97 low I would think the worker would be upset and end up staying late. Not wanting PTO time to be cancelled might make the worker stay and fix the mistake but I’m sure they are harboring animosity about the situation.
98 high The worker likely felt embarrassed or unappreciated.
99 low I think the worker would make the time to do the work, and make the necessary corrections.
100 high i don’t think anything happened because revoking of PTO is probably allowed at the manager’s discretion. I think the worker would have been upset and scared.
101 high I think the worker eventually succumbed to the threats and intimidation and ended up staying to fix their mistake in the report.
102 high I think the worker conceded and fixed the report but held it against the manager going forward and may have even look out for an opportunity for payback.
103 high I think the worker probably stayed to fix the project in an effort to prevent loss of future PTO
104 low The worker would have been forced to make a decision to either do the work which he might not be happy doing or face the consequence of getting their PTO not approved.
105 high I think the employee was correct in standing up for themselves
106 low The worker would probably agree that they should stay late and fix the report, so they don’t lose out on their PTO. They would probably feel a little ashamed about not wanting to stay late initially, but they would agree to do the extra work for the good of their workplace.
107 high The worker was angry about what the manager ask him to do,truth is ,its not fair, why will you ask him to stay back and do extra work
108 low I think this would create trust issues and put up walls against the manager. The person had previous plans so it would be more generous and warm to let the person work on correcting the errors after their plans are finished, either later that night or the next day at work. The manager acting this way could really cause issues in the future.
109 low I think the boss over reacted but the employee likely followed his instructions.
110 low I really don’t see anything wrong with the manager’s opinion that the overdue report needs to be fixed. But threatening do deny PTO to the worker seems like the wrong way to go. Aren’t there any formal punishments that they have in place instead. Write ups, a point system, or verbal warnings that can be placed in the employee’s folder? And as for the employee, I don’t see a problem with their stance either. When your shift is over, it’s over. Should they have done a better job on the report? Yes. But they should have been approached about it, especially if it was overdue, earlier.
111 high Well, The manager understood the role and duty of being a manager while the workers reaction would definitely be shocking distressfully, because the manager made some threat and also passed the message needed across. i would say the co worker might rudely approach the task and get it done
112 high I would bet that the worker would get the report done quickly and probably not good quality. They might even look for a new job.
113 high I would think the worker would stay after work and fix the report. The worker was probably shocked that the manager would threaten their PTO
114 low I think the employee fixed the issue and was granted his time off. Even though the employee was mad he had to stay and fix the error in the report he did so so he could get his time off.
115 low I assume the worker reluctantly stayed and fixed the report. But they probably were less trusting of and less helpful to that manager in the future.
116 low I think tha manager was out of line to threaten PTO approval. However, the employee also needs to do more careful work that does not contain errors, as that hurts everyone.
117 high I think he probably got his paid time off taken away and not approved due to his attitude about not finishing his assigned work. I think it is fair because this employee should get his work done prior to thinking about vacation.
118 high The worker stay late and corrected the mistake in his report, reminding the manager that he did so so he could continue with planned PTO
119 high I assume that the worker either stayed over and fixed the mistake or there were consequences.
120 low I think that the worker probably stayed and fixed the report. However, I think the manager’s approach to solve the problem was way out of line.
121 low The worker probably felt frustrated and possibly resentful towards the manager

Manipulation check: Competitive Worldview

  1. This is a dog-eat-dog workplace where you have to be ruthless at times
  2. In this workplace, there is really no such thing as “right and wrong.” It all boils down to what you can get away with
  3. One of the most useful skills an employee in this workplace should develop is how to look someone in the eye and lie convincingly
  4. In this workplace, it is better to be loved than to be feared [R]
  5. In this workplace, you should do you unto others as you would have them do unto you [R]

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88

Relationship impact

Mean score of two items:

In your opinion, what was the impact of this incident on the employee’s relationship with this manager? (1 = It severely damaged their relationship to 7 = It strongly improved their relationship)

In your opinion, what was the impact of this episode on the worker’s commitment to this manager? (1 = It severely damaged their commitment to this manager to 7 = it strongly improved their commitment to this manager)

r = 0.73

Compliance impact

Mean score of two items:

In your opinion, to what extent did the employee comply with what the manager was seeking or requesting? (1 = They did not comply at all with what the manager was seeking to 7 = They completely complied with what the manager was seeking)

In your opinion, to what extent did the worker meet the manager’s expectations on what they were seeking or requesting? (1 = Far below expectations to 7 = Far exceeded expectations)

r = 0.64

Own behavior: Likelihood

If you were the manager in this workplace, facing this situation, how likely would you be to act in the way the manager did, as described earlier? (1 = Not at All Likely to 5 = Extremely Likely)

Own behavior: Similarity

If you were the manager in this situation, to what extent could you imagine acting in a way that is similar to what the manager did? (1 = Not at All Similar to 5 = Extremely Similar)

Own behavior: Anchors

The prior Connect participant who described this episode summarized the manager’s behavior this way:

Threatened to disapprove time off for the worker

We also asked them what other approach the manager could have taken. The participant wrote:

Apologized for the tone, offered an explanation, and pleaded with the worker to reconsider

Between these two alternatives, which would you have been more likely to enact? (0 = Threatened to disapprove time off for the worker; 10 = Threatened to deny future requests by the worker)

Analysis

Manipulation check: CWV

cond N Mean SD
high 61 4.642623 1.4043337
low 60 2.256667 0.9359789


t(104.71) = 11.01, p = 0, Lower CI = 1.96, Upper CI = 2.82, d = 2.15.

Relationship impact

cond N Mean SD
high 61 2.098361 0.8001025
low 60 2.141667 1.0739270


t(109.05) = -0.25, p = 0.802, Lower CI = -0.38, Upper CI = 0.3, d = -0.05.

Each relationship impact separately

In your opinion, what was the impact of this episode on the worker’s relationship with this manager?

cond N Mean SD
high 61 1.983607 0.7635837
low 60 2.083333 1.0937677


t(105.32) = -0.58, p = 0.563, Lower CI = -0.44, Upper CI = 0.24, d = -0.11.

In your opinion, what was the impact of this episode on the worker’s commitment to this manager?

cond N Mean SD
high 61 2.213115 1.066376
low 60 2.200000 1.116896


t(118.53) = 0.07, p = 0.947, Lower CI = -0.38, Upper CI = 0.41, d = 0.01.

Compliance impact

cond N Mean SD
high 61 3.459016 1.536487
low 60 2.458333 1.222292


t(114.04) = 3.97, p = 0, Lower CI = 0.5, Upper CI = 1.5, d = 0.74.

Own behavior: Likelihood

cond N Mean SD
high 61 1.622951 1.019214
low 60 1.733333 1.162503


t(116.47) = -0.56, p = 0.58, Lower CI = -0.5, Upper CI = 0.28, d = -0.1.

Own behavior: Similarity

cond N Mean SD
high 61 1.688525 0.9581403
low 60 1.716667 1.0906640


t(116.54) = -0.15, p = 0.88, Lower CI = -0.4, Upper CI = 0.34, d = -0.03.

Own behavior: Achors

cond N Mean SD
high 61 3.114754 2.652661
low 60 2.450000 2.486744


t(118.73) = 1.42, p = 0.158, Lower CI = -0.26, Upper CI = 1.59, d = 0.26.

Mediation model 1: Relationship expectancies

a = -0.04 (p = 0.802)
b = 0.61 (p = 0)
direct = -0.11 (p = 0.58)
indirect = -0.08 (p = 0.621)

Mediation model 2: Compliance expectancies

a = 1 (p = 0)
b = -0.14 (p = 0.049)
direct = -0.11 (p = 0.58)
indirect = 0.03 (p = 0.88)

Extra

correlations: entire sample

df_recd_elg %>%
  dplyr::select(CWV:behav_anchor) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)

correlations: HIGH CWV Condition

df_recd_elg %>%
  filter(cond == "high") %>% 
  dplyr::select(CWV:behav_anchor) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)

correlations: LOW CWV Condition

df_recd_elg %>%
  filter(cond == "low") %>% 
  dplyr::select(CWV:behav_anchor) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)