How much of one’s personal life should be on display in the office? Conventional wisdom suggests that it is best to leave family photos at home, since these types of displays may signal you’d rather be elsewhere.
Why You Should Encourage Employees to Display Family Photos at Work
Researchers found a correlation between photos of loved ones and ethical behavior.
October 15, 2020
Summary.
Organizations lose an estimated 5% of revenue annually as a result of employee fraud, the majority of which are small-scale transgressions, such as padded expense reports, inventory theft, or misappropriating petty cash. In a series of studies, researchers found that employees with photos of loved ones on their desks were much less likely to engage in this kind of unethical behavior. Photos of loved ones appear to offset the economic calculus that tends to underlie people’s thoughts much of the time while they are at work. Workplaces that develop an inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable personalizing their workplaces, may find an unexpected benefit.
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Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.
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New!
HBR Learning
Ethics at Work Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Ethics at Work. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.