Engaging Employees Through a Virtuous Environment! Does Positive Affect Mediate in the Relationship?

Abstract

The Problem The high rate of disengagement among the workforce affects the overall functioning of the organizations as disengaged employees are not only dissatisfied but can also spread negativity among their fellows. Therefore, there is an emerging need to ascertain how organizations can contribute in reducing such disengagement. The Solution Findings from this study suggests that an organizational environment of respect, trust, forgiveness, and care and concern can solve the problem of disengagement. Such an environment requires management support in creating a culture that recognizes the role of empathy in boosting positive emotions and reducing employees’ negativity. The Stakeholders Human resource development practitioners, researchers, scholars, managers, and others who are interested in pursuing research in this area.

Being Virtuous Together: A One-Year Prospective Study on Organizational Virtuousness, Well-Being, and Organizational Commitment

“…A few recent studies found that affective well-being is a significant mediator linking organizational virtuousness to affective commitment, work engagement, job performance, and organizational citizenship behaviors (Ahmed et al, 2018 ; Magnier-Watanabe et al, 2017 ; Singh et al, 2018 ). Employees who perceive themselves to be working in a virtuous organization are likely to experience positive emotions (e.g., happy, joyful, pleasant, and contented), and as a result are likely to be committed and engaged at work (Rego et al, 2011 ; Sharma & Goyal, 2021 ). The researchers explained that organizational virtuousness cultivates a sense of flow, engagement, and well-being among employees because of positive emotions from positive social interactions (Rego et al, 2010 ).…”