Counterproductive Work Practices: The Range, Natur

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Counterproductive Work Practices: The range, nature, and management 1. Introduction Counterproductive work behavior (CWB) has been a major subject since the beginning of time. “A papyrus recovered from an Egyptian tomb describes how, over 2000 years ago, workers building monuments for the nobility walked off the job to protest their lack of pay.” (MacLane, Walmsley, 2010, 62; citing Vernus, 2003). Although, in that time period, it was illegal to walk off a job and/or protest, they were just expressing a counterproductive work behavior from the results of stress and not being treated fairly when it came to wages. Counterproductive work behaviors through time have been categorized into five distinctive classes: abuse, production deviance, sabotage, theft, and withdrawal. These five classifications have further dimensions which will be discussed further. In addition, organizations are taking multiple measures to recognize, prevent, and stop counterproductive work practices. Many scholars have different ways to define counterproductive work behaviors but the definitions have the same significant points, that CWB is wrong. CWB’s are the negative behaviors of employees, individuals and /or groups that affect the production, profits, and the atmosphere of an organization. The five categories also, have their own descriptions when it comes to counterproductive work behaviors. Abuse, by most researchers, is the hurtful and disgusting behaviors employees express towards co-workers and/or customers. Secondly, production deviance is when employees deliberately do the job wrong or allowing inaccuracy and miscalculations to go on. After that, is sabotage and it is defined in counterproductive work behavior as intentionally damaging organizational property. Furthermore, theft is known everywhere as taking property not belonging to you. Finally, there is withdrawal, which is

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