Unveiling the Hidden Hazards: Exploring the Unintended Consequences of Legal Changes on Employee Injuries

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Mai, Ke Michael; Lin, Yupeng; Zhang, Keyuan; Zhang, Rengong (Alex)
• 署名单位: China Europe International Business School; National University of Singapore; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; University of Ottawa
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0001387
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION RIGHTS; SOCIAL-ROLE THEORY; safety climate; gender-differences; DERIVATIVE LITIGATION; corporate governance; disclosure evidence; MORAL SENSITIVITY; HEALTH; cost

摘要

This study investigates the unintended effects of legal changes in shareholder litigation on employee injuries, revealing substantial consequences for employee welfare when restrictions are placed on shareholder litigation. Using a quasi-natural experiment involving the adoption of universal demand laws, we found that this reform, aimed at improving operational efficiency, is associated with a 28% increase in workplace injuries. This increase coincided with a marked surge in managerial focus on firm growth, without a commensurate increase in attention to safety. The association is stronger in lower income counties, highlighting a potential economic redistribution effect that concerns vulnerable employee groups. We also find that female-led firms exhibit minimal increases in injury rates after the adoption, in contrast to male-led firms, indicating that CEO gender moderates the relationship. These findings highlight how regulatory changes may be associated with unintended consequences for employees through shifts in managerial focus. We discuss the theoretical and policy implications of our findings.