Yes to the Ethic of Care,But at What Cost? Examining How Personal and Organizational Care Perceptions Influence Work Stress and Quiet Quitting in the Public Sector

Abstract

Public sector employees often embody care ethics in their external communication roles; however, the influence of care ethics on internal organizational dynamics remains underexplored. Grounded in the ethic of care theory, this study examines how perceptions of care at the individual level (through caregiver role identity) and the organizational level (via a caring climate) shape employee work stress and quiet quitting intentions. Survey data from 308 self-identified U.S. government employees involved in communication tasks show that personal caregiver identity increases stress and indirectly raises quiet quitting intentions, while a caring organizational climate reduces both. These findings highlight how care perceptions influence employee outcomes differently and question the assumption that care is always positive by revealing the psychological costs associated with unsupported caregiving roles. This research offers a nuanced understanding of care ethics and practical strategies to create workplace environments that support, rather than exploit, care in the public sector.