The Influence of Emotional Intelligence and Work Environment on Employee Performance: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction at Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Samarinda

 This investigation explores how emotional intelligence and the work setting impact staff effectiveness at Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Samarinda, considering job contentment as an intermediary factor. The goals include evaluating the straightforward influences of emotional intelligence and work conditions on effectiveness, examining the intermediary function of job contentment, and suggesting ways to boost productivity and welfare in the organization. A numerical method was applied, involving a one-time survey layout. Information was gathered from 120 staff members in academic and administrative positions via a formatted survey derived from established measures for emotional intelligence, work setting, job contentment, and effectiveness. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) served to scrutinize the connections. Outcomes show that emotional intelligence (β = 0.328, p = 0.002) and work setting (β = 0.187, p = 0.045) have meaningful positive effects on effectiveness, while also favorably affecting job contentment (emotional intelligence: β = 0.289, p = 0.001; work setting: β = 0.314, p = 0.000). Job contentment notably improves effectiveness (β = 0.412, p = 0.000) and partly intermediates the links between emotional intelligence and effectiveness (β = 0.172, p = 0.004) and work setting and effectiveness (β = 0.158, p = 0.007). The framework accounts for 59.8% of the variation in effectiveness and 54.3% in job contentment, indicating solid interpretive strength. These results imply that skillful handling of job contentment strengthens the beneficial impacts of emotional intelligence and work setting on effectiveness. The research determines that establishments ought to establish development initiatives for emotional skills and refinements in relational aspects of the work setting to aid staff, especially in demanding vocational learning environments. This work adds to the body of knowledge on organizational output in emerging nations and delivers useful perspectives for advancing staff welfare and efficiency.