A study examining the relationship between decent work and unproductive work behaviors

The primary objective of this research is to examine the relationship between decent work and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB). Aiming to empirically test the link between the quality of working life and employees' tendencies toward unproductive deviant behaviors, this study was conducted on school staff, including both teachers and administrative personnel. A quantitative research method was employed, and data were collected using the "Decent Work Scale" and the "Counterproductive Work Behaviors Scale." Reliability analyses indicated high internal consistency coefficients for both scales, confirming their high level of reliability. According to the findings of the correlation analysis performed to define the relationship between the variables, no statistically significant relationship was found between decent work and counterproductive work behaviors. Consequently, the primary hypothesis, which suggested a "significant negative relationship between decent work and counterproductive work behaviors," was rejected. This finding indicates that, particularly among the school employees in the sample, perceptions of favorable working conditions do not play a decisive role in unproductive behaviors. The results suggest that other factors, such as high professional experience (with 33.8% having 26 years or more of experience), educational level, and organizational culture, may have influenced this relationship. In conclusion, within the school environment, decent work is shaped by various variables—such as personal ethical values, organizational culture, and professional discipline—rather than merely the physical and economic conditions of the job.