Exploring Ethnicity and Gender Discrimination in Judging Resume Fraud and Counterproductive Workplace Behavior

Abstract

The impact of ethnicity and gender on employment and income disparities in the labor market has been extensively studied, revealing patterns of discrimination. We focus on these specific attributes as potential influencers of perceptions regarding resume fraud and counterproductive behavior in the workplace. In our research, 1,002 participants reviewed CVs of prospective job candidates and were subsequently informed about various instances of resume fraud and counterproductive behavior exhibited by the candidates. The names of the candidates were selected to reflect distinct ethnic origins and genders. Our findings indicate the presence of ethnic discrimination. Specifically, individuals within each ethnic group tended to evaluate candidates from their own group with less severity compared to candidates from the opposite group. We did not uncover any indications of gender bias; both male and female candidates were assessed in a similar manner. Our findings uncover ethnicity-based discrimination in the evaluation of negative behavior within the workplace.

Keywords: discrimination, ethical judgment, gender, ethnicity, evaluation biases, unethical work behavior

JEL Classification: C91, J71, J16