When Dirty Work Inspires: The Joint Effect of Work Dirtiness and Perceived Stigma on Pro-Organizational Behavior

Research reveals that many employees derive esteem and pride from their work despite indignities attributed to their occupations. Whereas studies have identified what these “dirty workers” think and do to maintain a positive work identity, it remains unclear why they do so whereas others tend to disengage from work. We draw from self-categorization theory to develop a model that conceptualizes how the salience of one’s social identity is determined jointly by engaging in dirty tasks (i.e., work dirtiness) and perceived occupational stigma. When perceiving that others in society stigmatize one’s occupation, high work dirtiness creates a match between one’s behavior and societal expectations linked to one’s job. Based on this mechanism of normative fit, work-related social identity is salient, encouraging pro-organizational behavior. Conversely, we argue that when stigma is perceived as low, individuals experiencing high dirtiness at work become more concerned about their personal identity, reducing engagement with their organization. Results from four studies using survey and experimental designs largely support our hypotheses. This research reconciles seemingly contradictory results concerning employee responses toward dirty work and provides a theoretical explanation for why people with dirty jobs engage positively with their work and organizations.