Entrepreneurship literature has generally focused on the positive attributes of the entrepreneur, leaving a significant gap in relation to dark characteristics. A common assumption is that individuals higher on dark characteristics may experience short-term gain, but eventually derail � leaving a wake of interpersonal abuse and harm. This study focuses on the relationship between founder levels of the dark triad (Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy), employee tenure, and employee outcomes (levels of creativity and performance). Hypotheses propose that the relationships between founder dark triad levels and both employee creativity and employee performance � will be moderated by employee tenure, weakening positive outcomes. The results of the first study provide significant support for tenure moderation of the dark-triad � employee performance relationship. Study two provides significant support for tenure moderation of the dark-triad � employee creativity relationship. This research provides support for the idea that increased exposure to founders with high levels of psychopathy is associated with negative employee outcomes. For founders with high levels of narcissism, the opposite is true. Findings from both study one and two show higher levels of founder narcissism are linked to positive employee outcomes over time. The results of both studies also demonstrate that while high levels of founder Machiavellianism may correspond to higher employee performance � even in for high-tenure employees � the increased performance appears to come at the cost of significant decreases in creativity.Business Administratio
