Linking Ethical Leadership to Employee Green Behaviour: Mediating Mechanism of Green Organizational Identity

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the intricate relationships between Ethical Leadership (EL), Green Organizational Identity (GOI), and Employee Green Behaviour (EGB) within the context of public-sector universities in Balochistan, Pakistan. Increasingly, organizational sustainability is becoming an essential objective for organizational leaders, and scholars need to understand the challenges of how ethical leadership influences employees' sustainable behaviours within organizations. Based on Social Learning Theory and Social Identity Theory, this study aims to explain how ethical leaders can influence employee pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours, both directly and indirectly, through organization members’ identification with the organization. Using quantitative research design, data were gathered through a structured questionnaire from 230 faculty members from different public sector universities in Balochistan. The Hayes PROCESS macro (Model 4) was used to analyse the data to test the hypothesized mediation model. The findings showed that Ethical Leadership has a significant, positive impact on both Green Organizational Identity and Employee Green Behaviour. Additionally, the research revealed that leaders who demonstrate fairness, integrity, and a strong environmental commitment are more likely to foster sustainable behaviour among their employees. However, it was not possible to confirm the mediation role of Green Organizational Identity as a mediator between Ethical Leadership and Employee Green Behaviour, as the impact of ethical leadership on employees' environmentally friendly actions does not occur solely through organizational identity or identification processes. The work makes a significant contribution to theory by integrating the moral and ecological facets of leadership and by extending the current frameworks of sustainable behaviour in the higher education sector. Besides, it offers practical implications to researchers and practitioners who may call for the increased development of ethical leadership programs, the fostering of sustainability-oriented values, and the facilitation of employee engagement in green activities. In brief, this research highlights the importance of ethical leadership as a driver of eco-friendly culture in organizations and paves the way for further investigations into additional variables that mediate or moderate the relationship between ethical leadership and employees' sustainable behaviours.

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