Does Worrying About Money Motivate Counterproductive Work Behavior Through Need Satisfaction?

This research examined the hypothesis that workers’ financial worry predicts their counterproductive work behavior. Based on self-determination theory, we propose that psychological need satisfaction explains this relationship, and we position this volitional pathway as an alternative to a cognitive capacity pathway tested in prior research based on cognitive load theory. A time-lagged study with three measurement points conducted among 180 workers supported our model. The analysis, showed that financial worries predicted counterproductive work behavior via need satisfaction and not via cognitive capacity. Given the problematic implications of counterproductive behavior for the functioning of organizations, the findings point at worker financial concern as an important factor for (HR) management to put on their radar. Keywords: Financial worry; need satisfaction; cognitive capacity; counterproductive work behavior