The Impact of Ethical Climate on Employee Green Behavior: The Moderating Role of Employees’ Dark Triad

This study examines the relationship between the ethical climate and green behavior of the employees and how the dark triad aspects of behavior influence it. Ethical Climate as an organizational culture factor significantly influences the extent to which organizational members will engage in sustainable practices regarding environmental variability and act ethically. However, the Dark Triad traits in employees will likely erode ethical standards and consequently promote counterproductive work behaviors to distort green ventures. This study aims to understand the degree to which an ethical climate relates to positive attitudes toward green behavior and the role that the Dark Triad plays in this relationship. In line with the social learning perspective and the person-situation interactionist view of behavioral organization, the study focuses on Ethical climate and personality regarding sustainability. The study findings indicate that an ethical climate strengthens a positive relationship between employee green behavior and environmental consciousness. However, the Dark Triad personality dimension reduces this relationship because people with these personality features are more self-interested than other individuals. The study thus offers rich guidance for organizations that seek to improve sustainability commitment by developing a sound ethical climate coupled with reducing toxic people at work. In general, it calls for further research on Dark Triad traits and strategies to address them and promote ethical leadership as a way of contributing to the attainment of organizational goals.