Purpose This article examines how fear of goal failure leads to unethical behavior at work. The study further explores whether ego depletion mediates the positive link between employees’ fear of failure in meeting their goals and their unethical behavior. In addition, the moderating role of moral attentiveness on the mediated relationship is examined.

Design/methodology/approach Time-lagged data were collected from the sales staff working across various industries in the USA and Pakistan. The final samples from the USA and Pakistan were n = 334 and n = 381, respectively.

Findings Fear of goal failure was significantly related to employees’ unethical behavior, and ego depletion mediated this positive relationship. In addition, employees’ moral attentiveness attenuated the link between fear of goal failure and unethical behavior.

Practical implications This study contributes to the existing literature by testing an unexplored relationship between fear of goal failure and employee unethical behavior at work. It further confirms the role of an individual’s morality in shaping this relationship.

Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature by testing an unexplored relationship of fear of goal failure with employee unethical behavior at work. It further confirms the role of individual’s morality in shaping this relationship.