IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i23p10732-d1538522.html

Unpacking the Relationship Between Empowerment Leadership and Electricity Worker’s Unsafe Behavior: A Multi-Moderated Mediation Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Ali Arhim

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, TRNC, 33010 Mersin, Turkey)

  • Ahmad Alzubi

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, TRNC, 33010 Mersin, Turkey)

  • Kolawole Iyiola

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, TRNC, 33010 Mersin, Turkey)

  • Faith Umene Banje

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, TRNC, 33010 Mersin, Turkey)

Abstract

Ensuring workplace safety in high-risk sectors is critical to achieving sustainable productivity and occupational health, particularly in industries prone to unsafe practices. Drawing on social exchange theory (SET), this study examines the impact of empowerment leadership (EL) on electricity workers’ unsafe behaviors (EWUBs) in Jordan, focusing on the mediating roles of safety motivation (SM) and work engagement (WE), as well as the moderating role of the error management climate (EMC). A quantitative approach was employed, collecting data from 409 electricity workers across various regions of Jordan. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) employing SmartPLS 4 to assess the relationships of these variables and AMOS 24.0 to compute the study measurement model’s internal consistency and construct validity. The results demonstrate that empowerment leadership significantly reduces electricity workers’ unsafe behaviors through increased safety motivation and work engagement. Furthermore, the error management climate moderates the relationship between empowerment leadership and work engagement (Estimate = 0.238, t = 7.783, <0.001) is stronger when the error management climate is high and weaker but also insignificant when the error management climate is low (Estimate = 0.045, t = 1.015, >0.05). The research highlights the crucial role of empowerment leadership in promoting safety motivation and work engagement, which (Estimate = 0.238, t = 7.783, <0.001) is stronger and essential for minimizing unsafe behavior in high-risk industries like electricity. The findings highlight the pivotal role of shaping employees’ unsafe behavior and offers practical implications for policymakers and institutions aiming to promote employees’ safety behavior. Future studies also emphasize fostering an error management climate to reinforce these effects and organizations should focus on leadership development and creating a supportive error management climate to maximize safety outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Arhim & Ahmad Alzubi & Kolawole Iyiola & Faith Umene Banje, 2024. "Unpacking the Relationship Between Empowerment Leadership and Electricity Worker’s Unsafe Behavior: A Multi-Moderated Mediation Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10732-:d:1538522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10732/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10732/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shaker Salem Abuzawida & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Kolawole Iyiola, 2023. "Sustainable Supply Chain Practices: An Empirical Investigation from the Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Tariq Aboalhool & Ahmad Alzubi & Kolawole Iyiola, 2024. "Humane Entrepreneurship in the Circular Economy: The Role of Green Market Orientation and Green Technology Turbulence for Sustainable Corporate Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Dong Ju & Xin Qin & Minya Xu & Marco S. DiRenzo, 2016. "Boundary conditions of the emotional exhaustion-unsafe behavior link: The dark side of group norms and personal control," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 113-140, March.
    4. Joyce Rupert & Astrid C. Homan & Karen A. Jehn & Robert Jan Blomme, 2019. "Diversity Composition and Team Learning: The Moderating Role of Error Culture," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 695-722, August.
    5. Clayton M. Christensen & Rory McDonald & Elizabeth J. Altman & Jonathan E. Palmer, 2018. "Disruptive Innovation: An Intellectual History and Directions for Future Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(7), pages 1043-1078, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zaynab Asbeetah & Ahmad Alzubi & Amir Khadem & Kolawole Iyiola, 2025. "Harnessing Digital Transformation for Sustainable Performance: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Green Knowledge Acquisition and Innovation Performance Under Digital Transformational Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-32, March.
    2. Mihai Felea & Ionel Bran & Dragos Bujor & Kamran Allahverdiyev, 2026. "Exploring Research Trends in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: a Bibliometric Analysis," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 28(71), pages 1-88, February.
    3. Mark Knell & Simone Vannuccini, 2022. "Tools and concepts for understanding disruptive technological change after Schumpeter," Jena Economics Research Papers 2022-005, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    4. Aurel Burciu & Rozalia Kicsi & Simona Buta & Mihaela State & Iulia Burlac & Denisa Alexandra Chifan & Beatrice Ipsalat, 2023. "The Study of the Relationship among GCI, GII, Disruptive Technology, and Social Innovations in MNCs: How Do We Evaluate Financial Innovations Made by Firms? A Preliminary Inquiry," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-42, August.
    5. Qingfeng Meng & Wenyao Liu & Zhen Li & Xin Hu, 2021. "Influencing Factors, Mechanism and Prevention of Construction Workers’ Unsafe Behaviors: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Langley, Paul & Rieple, Alison, 2021. "Incumbents’ capabilities to win in a digitised world: The case of the fashion industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    7. Kristina Stoiber & Kurt Matzler & Julia Hautz, 2023. "Ambidextrous structures paving the way for disruptive business models: a conceptual framework," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1439-1485, May.
    8. Croce, Annalisa & Toschi, Laura & Ughetto, Elisa & Zanni, Sara, 2024. "Cleantech and policy framework in Europe: A machine learning approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    9. Rory M. McDonald & Ryan T. Allen, 2022. "A Spanner in the Works: Category-Spanning Entrants and Audience Valuation of Incumbents," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(3), pages 190-209, September.
    10. Darko B. Vuković & Senanu Dekpo-Adza & Stefana Matović, 2025. "AI integration in financial services: a systematic review of trends and regulatory challenges," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-29, December.
    11. Arias-Oliva, Mario & Pelegrín-Borondo, Jorge & Lara-Palma, Ana María & Juaneda-Ayensa, Emma, 2020. "Emerging cyborg products: An ethical market approach for market segmentation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    12. Etienne Montaigne & Alfredo Coelho & Samson Zadmehran, 2021. "A Comprehensive Economic Examination and Prospects on Innovation in New Grapevine Varieties Dealing with Global Warming and Fungal Diseases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Muller, Eitan, 2020. "Delimiting disruption: Why Uber is disruptive, but Airbnb is not," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 43-55.
    14. Farouk Umar Kofar Naisa & Enjun Xia & Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim & Adams Adeiza & Abdul Gaffar Khan, 2024. "The Effect of the Global Health Crisis on Organizational Marketing and Culture of Innovation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 15218-15242, September.
    15. Honorine Harlé & Pascal Le Masson & Benoit Weil, 2021. "A model of creative heritage for industry: designing new rules while preserving the present system of rules [Un modèle de patrimoine de création pour l'industrie: concevoir de nouvelles règles dans un système de règle tout en le préservant]," Post-Print hal-03406761, HAL.
    16. Muhamad Firdaus Jamal & Nur Siri Roland Xavier, 2025. "The Future of Accounting in Malaysia: Navigating Digital Disruptions and Innovations for Professional Growth," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(4), pages 3904-3916, April.
    17. Maryam Khosravi & Mahmood Yahyazadehfar & Mohsen Alizadeh Sani, 2023. "Economic growth and human capital in Iran: A phenomenological study in a major Central Asian economy," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 645-679, June.
    18. Vinay Singh & Jainendra Singh & Nikita Singh, 2025. "Fuelling Organisational Capabilities for Sustainable Innovation Disruption: Performing to Be a Pioneer," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 8052-8078, November.
    19. Wang, Zhiwei & Wei, Lican & Wang, Song, 2025. "Navigating disruptive innovation through opportunity recognition: A configurational approach to team learning," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    20. Arne Jeppe & Heike Proff, 2025. "Sustainable Energy Provision at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Blueprint for Early Repurposing Business Models Using Second‐Life Batteries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(5), pages 6283-6303, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10732-:d:1538522. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.