The Mediating Role of Trust in the Effect of Ethical Leadership on Employee Attitudes and Behaviors

Abstract

This empirical study aims to analyze the effect of ethical leadership on employees' citizenship behavior in organization, commitment, and job satisfaction by determining how the trust-based relationships within the organization are related to that effect. Data were gathered from 328 employees who are employed in various durable goods manufacturing companies in organized industrial region in Ankara/Turkey. The consequences of structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that ethical leadership was related to trust both in leader and in organization. In accordance with the expectations, the results indicated that trust in leader partially mediated the relationship between ethical leadership, organizational commitment, satisfaction from job, and organizational citizenship behavior. On the other hand, trust in organization partially mediated the relationship between citizenship behavior in organization, commitment and ethical leadership. Contrary to the expectations, it was observed that the relationship between ethical leadership and satisfaction from job was not mediated by trust in organization.

The antecedents and consequences of psychological capital: a meta-analytic approach

“…An ethical leader as a moral person can foster positive employee attitudes and behavior through the ability to influence followers (Yates, 2014). This conclusion is in line with prior studies (Palanski et al , 2014; Yanik, 2018; Yates, 2014). Employees who perceive their supervisors as displaying abusive behaviors were less satisfied with their jobs and this led to job search behavior (Palanski et al , 2014), reduced levels of affective organizational commitment and the performance of fewer OCBs (Aryee et al , 2007; Zellars et al , 2002).…”

Ethical entrepreneurial leadership and organizational trust for organizational sustainability

“…Based on the results of this study, it is clear that organizational trust is an important factor in the relationship between ethical entrepreneurial leadership and organizational sustainability. In the results of research by Pucetaite (2014) and Yanik (2018) organizational trust significantly acts as a mediator in the relationship of ethical leadership with employee attitudes and behavior. Therefore, to improve the sustainability of an organization, organizational trust needs to be further enhanced.…”

“…The results found that ethical leadership significantly affected the trust of members of the organization (van den Akker et al, 2009;Engelbrecht, 2014;Yanik, 2018). Leaders with strong ethical values generally respected the words and commitments made and communicating it to members of the organization, which further strengthens the trust of members of the organization towards the leadership (Avolio et al, 2004;Dadhich & Bhal, 2008;Schoorman et al, 2007).…”

Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership and Bricolage on Job Security and Sustainable Economic Performance: An Empirical Study of Croatian Companies during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Secure workers experience less job uncertainty and are more responsive, engaged, and confident and, therefore, committed to achieving the company's objectives. Organizations that manage to reassure employees of their job certainty through positive reinforcement and support are more likely to display innovative work behavior, enterprising tendencies, and generate novelty [71]. The spillover effect ensures that positive emotions, support, appraisal, motivation, and resourcefulness from entrepreneurial leaders will be reflected in followers' organizational citizenship behavior.…”