ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND TURNOVER INTENTION: A MODERATED MEDIATION MODEL OF JOB EMBEDDEDNESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

Abstract

This study aims to explore the direct and indirect effects of ethical leadership on turnover intention in the public hospitals of Pakistan. Specifically, the mediating effects of  organizational commitment and moderating effect of job embeddedness in the relationship between ethical leadership and turnover intention were investigated. For data gathering online questionnaire was adapted due to Covid-19 pandemic situation. The instrument was distributed to the nurses of 4  public hospitals of South Punjab of Pakistan on random basis. 372 correct questionnaires were received. Structural equation modeling was conducted by using Smarts PLS 3.29. The findings of the study discovered that direct relationship was exists. Hypothesis ethical leadership (justice, respect others, honesty, humane) between nurse turnover intention was supported. The results also discovered that mediation exists between ethical leadership (justice, respect others, honesty, humane) and nurse turnover intention, and hypothesis was supported, and job embeddedness moderated the relationship between ethical leadership (justice, respect others, honesty, humane) and nurse turnover intention. The results discovered that moderation exist between ethical leadership (respect others, honesty, humane) and nurse turnover intention and hypothesis supported except ethical leadership (justice). Furthermore, because this study’s variables have been widely investigated in developed countries, it was deemed worthwhile to apply the model in a developing country such as Pakistan to provide empirical evidence from a non-western context.