LMX and recruiter incivility toward job seekers: a self-serving attribution perspective

Purpose Job seekers frequently experience incivility during interactions with recruiters, which can negatively influence their job search behaviors. However, the underlying causes of such incivility remain underexplored. Based on attribution theory, this study examines how recruiters’ attributions about leader–member exchange (LMX) influence their psychological entitlement, which in turn shapes incivility toward job seekers. Design/methodology/approach The survey data was collected in three waves from 320 recruiters involved in the recruitment process. Findings The results found that when recruiters hold high levels of self-serving attribution, LMX quality is positively related to their psychological entitlement, which, in turn, promotes incivility toward job seekers. Practical implications Leaders should pay special attention to recruiters with high self-serving attributions when establishing LMX with them, as high-quality LMX may elicit a sense of psychological entitlement and potentially influence their uncivil behaviors. Originality/value Unlike prior studies that have focused on the negative outcomes of incivility experienced by job seekers, this study empirically reveals the potential antecedents of such incivility.