The supply of help in the workplace

Last registered on April 01, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The supply of help in the workplace
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012191
Initial registration date
December 03, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
December 06, 2023, 8:55 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
April 01, 2026, 1:48 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Uganda
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Silvia Castro
Affiliation
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Hoa Ho
PI Affiliation
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Maren Mickeler
PI Affiliation
ESSEC
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Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2023-10-19
End date
2025-01-31
Keywords
Behavior, Finance & Microfinance, Firms & Productivity, Health, Labor
Additional Keywords
prosocial behavior, workplace, collaboration, recognition, social incentives
JEL code(s)
M12 - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation, M52 - Personnel Economics; Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects, M54 - Labor Management, J33 - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods, L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior, D23 - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
In this study we aim to investigate the efficacy of incentives, specifically public recognition, in stimulating the supply of help among employees. Our study explores how an award for supportiveness influences employees’ willingness to engage in behaviors that are beneficial but not contractually required, such as assisting colleagues and participating in work-related events. We posit that public recognition by management can signal the value of this behavior to both the firm and peers, thereby fostering a culture of cooperation and mutual support. To test our hypothesis, we will implement a controlled intervention in a corporate setting, where a subset of the most supportive employees as selected by peers will receive a symbolic certificate of recognition. We will measure the impact of this recognition on various indicators of employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Castro, Silvia, Hoa Ho and Maren Mickeler. 2026. "The supply of help in the workplace." AEA RCT Registry. April 01. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12191-1.2
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Exogenously vary recognition of collaborative behavior at the workplace
Intervention (Hidden)
A select group of employees, identified through predetermined criteria reflecting supportivess, will be publicly acknowledged and awarded a symbolic certificate of recognition. This certificate, presented by the management, serves not just as a token of appreciation but also as a visible endorsement of the valued behaviors.
Intervention Start Date
2023-10-19
Intervention End Date
2024-10-22

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Prosocial behaviors, knowledge sharing, and productivity.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The intervention involves the issuance of awards to employees in the treated work locations, acknowledging their supportive behaviors towards colleagues and the organization. Selection of awardees will be based on evaluations from both coworkers and supervisors, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the employees' contributions.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
We implement matched-pair cluster randomization, with the defining clusters being the bank branches where our units of interest (i.e. the employees) work.
Randomization Unit
Branches (work-centers)
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
78
Sample size: planned number of observations
1300 employees
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
39 per treatment arm
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
ESSEC Research Ethics Committee
IRB Approval Date
2023-10-16
IRB Approval Number
2023-35
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

PAP_OCB_final

MD5: 5065e90a13a49f20b71d31cfc2ff6a8b

SHA1: 125ca6f9009c858b1c790433705384244037d7d0

Uploaded At: March 31, 2024

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials