Scholars have found that a positive relationship exists between organizational-level constructs related to favorable perception of a firm and employees’ job satisfaction: the more positively an organization is perceived, the happier are its workers. In this article, I specifically investigate the consequences of a negative corporate image, or disapproval of organizations. I observe that perception of disapproval of an organization has an adverse effect on job satisfaction, except if employees perceive criticism as illegitimate, in which case it can paradoxically improve job satisfaction. This study suggests the existence of social identity mechanisms that trigger micro-level reactions in case of unjustified disapprobation: employees stick together and hold the line against criticism, strengthening the collective identity and adding positive emotional value to the work experience.
