<p>Drawing on cognitive-affective personality system theory, this study investigates how perceived economic scarcity influences employees’ engagement in unethical pro-family behavior. We propose a dual-pathway model in which emotional exhaustion and reduced moral awareness mediate this relationship. Furthermore, we examine trait self-control as a moderating factor that shapes individuals’ emotional responses to economic scarcity. A three-wave survey of 317 employees in the service industry was conducted to test the proposed model. Results from structural equation modeling reveal that perceived economic scarcity significantly increases unethical pro-family behavior through both emotional exhaustion and diminished moral awareness. These mediators also form a sequential pathway, amplifying the impact of scarcity. Importantly, trait self-control buffers these effects, weakening the influence of economic scarcity on emotional exhaustion and its mediating roles. This study contributes to the literature by identifying perceived economic scarcity as a critical situational antecedent of unethical pro-family behavior and by integrating emotional and cognitive mechanisms in ethical decision-making. Practical implications include the importance of financial wellness programs, work-life balance initiatives, and ethics training, as well as incorporating self-control assessments in personnel decisions.</p>