When you hear the term “deviant workplace behavior” what do
you think? Do your thoughts immediately
go to visions of employees stealing inventory from a retail store? Do you picture an employee deleting files
from their company computer? Do you see
bookkeepers taking a little extra pay via sticky fingers? While these are deviant workplace behaviors
they are not the only kind. What if I
told you the employee who defends a co-worker is demonstrating deviant
workplace behavior, would you believe it?
The word deviant means, in loose terms means away from the
norm. Therefore, if the norm of the
business is corrupt, the deviant would be honest. For example, Enron was a profitable business
that employed numerous people. The
standard at the company was dishonesty and illegal activity. When the whistleblower came forward that
person was considered the deviant.
Deviant workplace behavior does have a negative connotation
to it, but the deviant behavior is not always a bad thing. If a business owner is going down a path that
is negative, such as cheating customers or defrauding the public than the
deviant within the organization would be a positive voice within the public. The deviant is always the one that is away
from the norm of operations. Could you
be the deviant if you were in an organization that was corrupt? Do it. Embrace your inner deviant and be the voice of positive impact in a less than positive workplace.
