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Dedicated but exhausted? The role of ethical leadership for employee wellbeing in UK student unions

Author

Listed:
  • Josh Rivers

    (Northumbria University, UK)

  • Neill Thompson

    (Northumbria University, UK)

  • Debora Jeske

    (University College Cork, Ireland)

Abstract

Building on previous leadership and well-being research, the aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship between ethical leadership and employee well-being (work engagement and emotional exhaustion) within student unions. We also considered the role of trust as a potential mediator in this relationship. Survey data was collected from 137 full-time employees working at student unions in the UK. Path model analysis revealed that trust in one’s manager partially mediated the effects of ethical leadership and work engagement and emotional exhaustion. While trust increased work engagement and reduced emotional exhaustion, ethical leadership also had a significant indirect effect on both outcomes. An interaction between employee dedication and ratings for manager’s ethical leadership suggested that more dedicated employees are less emotionally exhausted if their managers scored highly on ethical leadership. However, when the employees felt less dedicated to the job, managers’ ethical leadership behaviours did not reduce employees’ emotional exhaustion. The study examined the effect of ethical leadership in student unions, adding to the very sparse research on the experience of full-time employees working for student unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Josh Rivers & Neill Thompson & Debora Jeske, 2018. "Dedicated but exhausted? The role of ethical leadership for employee wellbeing in UK student unions," Journal of Human Resource Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Management, vol. 21(2), pages 16-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:cub:journl:v:21:y:2018:i:2:p:16-27
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    non-profit; ethical leadership; trust; work engagement; dedication;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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