Contextual Performance, Absenteeism, and
Late ness
In formulating ideas about links between contextual performance, absenteeism, and lateness, we also note the role of absenteeism and lateness as means through which employees can withhold inputs from an organization. Many foundational the ories of organizational behavior, including equity theory (Adams, 1965), inducements-contributions theory (March & Simon, 1958), and social exchange theory (Thibault & Kelly, 1959) suggest straightfor ward reasons why individuals contribute or with hold such inputs. Under their auspices, we theorize
that lateness and absence are often controllable forms of input reduction, subject to the same vations for withholding inputs as OCBs, helping behaviors, and other elements of contextual performance (cf. Harrison, Johns, & Martocchio, 2000). Those who are willing to expend the (extra-role) effort to engage in contextual performance are less apt to reduce their (in-role) effort to meet the focal demands of their work schedules. Additionally, absenteeism and lateness permit an employee to reduce the costs of an aversive job by engaging in
more pleasurable activities while still maintaining the job’s economic benefits. There are also fewer opportunities to enact forms of contextual performance when one spends less time at work (is late orabsent). Thus, Hypothesis 2. Contextual performance is negatively related to absenteeism. Hypothesis 3.Contextual performance is negatively related to late ness.