Navigating Corporate Scandals: The Role of Individuals

Corporate misconduct scandals have become significant challenges in today’s business environment. Scholars have explored the rise and effects of such scandals from various perspectives. However, important questions remain underexplored regarding the pivotal role individuals—ranging from external audiences to internal stakeholders such as employees—play in shaping the unfolding and impact of corporate scandals. By expressing their opinions and sentiments on social media, individuals help shape public discourse and generate interest in publicized wrongdoing. Employees, in particular, exhibit varied responses to organizational norm violations, reflecting diverse perceptions and coping mechanisms. These responses may include changes in morale, engagement, or even decisions to leave the organization. Yet, the specific ways in which employees navigate and react to scandals—and the factors influencing these choices—remain underexplored. Bringing together novel theoretical and empirical insights, this symposium aims to build an integrative understanding of how scandals are constructed, amplified, and experienced by individuals within and outside the organization.