Guidelines for workplace vigilantes: the influence of punishment altruism and gender on bystander behavior

Purpose Workplace vigilantes are individuals who monitor and punish deviants without formal authority. This study aims to examine how punishment altruism and workplace vigilante gender influence bystander behavior. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion and gender role theory, this study uses three experiments to test the effects of punishment altruism and workplace vigilante gender on bystander behavior, as well as the mediating roles of moral appraisal and moral emotions. Findings The results indicate that punishment altruism significantly affects bystander behavior. Specifically, punishment within an organizational frame leads to more positive and fewer negative bystander behaviors than punishment within a standard frame. Moral appraisal and moral emotions mediate the relationship between punishment altruism and bystander behavior. In addition, workplace vigilante gender moderates this chain-mediating process, such that the effects are stronger when the workplace vigilante is female. Originality/value This study extends research on workplace vigilantes by shifting attention from vigilantes and deviants to bystanders. It also clarifies the emotional mechanism and gender boundary condition through which informal punishment elicits bystander responses in organizations.