Name
Rewriting the Resume: How Corporate Misconduct Reshapes Employee Self-Presentation
Date & Time
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 11:55 AM - 12:20 PM
Description
This study examines whether individuals adjust their online professional profiles in response to corporate misconduct linked to their work histories. Following adverse corporate ESG-related events, we show that individuals affiliated with misconduct firms are more likely to revise their profiles and that their revisions contain more substantive changes. The responses are stronger when the underlying misconduct is more severe and more novel, which is consistent with stronger reactions to higher reputational spillover risk. In addition, individuals tend to revise positions at non-misconduct firms and place greater emphasis on their own roles and specific details. Lastly, our findings are not driven by current employees of misconduct firms, suggesting a broader reputational signalling rather than the job search incentive. Overall, our study contributes to research on disclosure and reputation repair by documenting individuals’ strategic selfpresentation following corporate misconduct.
Rencheng Wang
Keywords
corporate misconduct, reputation concerns, strategic disclosure, employee disclosure, social media, labor market
Theme
INTERDISCIPLINARY
Author 1
Jungbae Kim
Author 2
Rencheng Wang