What is it about?
This article examines the potential impact of COVID-19 regulations, such as mask-wearing and social distancing, on the behavior of shop assistants. We investigate whether these rules increase the likelihood of vendors cheating customers. Our research indicates that vendors are more inclined to engage in dishonest practices when fewer customers are present. However, no direct effect of wearing COVID-19 masks on this behavior has been confirmed.
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Why is it important?
This study reveals significant implications of COVID-19 pandemic measures on dishonesty in commercial transactions, particularly in retail settings. The key finding is that a reduced number of customers, a consequence of pandemic restrictions, notably increases the likelihood of dishonest behavior among shop assistants. Additionally, the research uncovers gender-based patterns in honesty, showing shop assistants tend to be more honest with customers of their own gender. These results offer critical insights for understanding and addressing ethical behavior in retail interactions during health crises.
Perspectives
Our focus was exclusively on customer behaviors (e.g. wearing masks). However, it would be intriguing to explore how mask-wearing by sellers, potentially heightening their sense of anonymity, might alter their ethical conduct in commercial interactions.
Maciej Koscielniak
SWPS University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: COVID-19 masks and limited number of shoppers as determinants of shop assistants’ (dis)honesty, PLoS ONE, January 2024, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296746.
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