Dishonesty in the workplace can be a major problem for any business. Recent estimates suggest that theft and fraud by employees reduce the profits of U.S. businesses by $50 billion annually. And to make matters worse, the problem is growing. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners noted that non-cash thefts in workplaces increased over 10% from 2002 to 2018.
When Employees Feel Grateful, They’re Less Likely to Be Dishonest
Dishonesty in the workplace can be a major problem for any business. Recent estimates suggest that theft and fraud by employees reduce the profits of U.S. businesses by $50 billion annually. Traditionally, business have used “top-down” strategies to combat dishonesty. These tactics typically rely on people engaging self-control in order to be effective. That is, employees have to refrain from seeking a desirable financial, material, or even interpersonal gain that they don’t truly merit. As decades of psychological research have shown, though, self-control can be difficult to maintain. New research suggests a different way to address the problem – one that works from the “bottom-up.” Two studies, of online workers and of students, find that making people feel grateful can lead them to be more honest on tasks.