Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Workplace: A Multi-Level Perspective and Research Agenda

Journal of Business Ethics · 2012 · Volume 109 · Issue 3

Abstract

Forgiveness and reconciliation have been shown to be beneficial alternatives to revenge as responses to an interpersonal offense in the workplace. Prior research on these topics, however, is often narrow in scope, focusing on only the victim. Moreover, existing research is often unclear about the relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation. In response, this article proposes a conceptual framework of forgiveness, reconciliation, and their respective antecedents which is both multi-level and interdisciplinary. This framework is used to review the nascent management-related research on forgiveness and reconciliation, and to augment this research from other fields, especially social psychology. Future research directions and managerial implications are proposed based on the multi-level model and research from other fields.

Keywords

Apologies, Conflict resolution, Deviant workplace behaviors, Forgiveness, Levels of analysis, Organizational citizenship behaviors, Reconciliation, Workplace violence

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