Buffering Effects Of Workplace Spirituality On The Relationship Between Abusive Supervision And Work Alienation Among Private Sector Employee
Keywords:
abusive supervision, leadership, work alienation, workplace spiritualityAbstract
Work becomes foreign when the very leaders meant to guide it are the reason employees disengage. In environments where there are no modalities checkmating abuse of employees, abusive supervision thrives. Work alienation and abusive supervision are two sides of the same toxic coin. Employees in such settings often experience reduced engagement, and a lack of meaning in their work – a precursor for alienation. Against this backdrop, this study examined abusive supervision as predictor of work alienation as well as the buffering effects of workplace spirituality among private sector employees which helps to cushion the effects of abusive supervision. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design using a structured questionnaire. A total of 507 employees (203 males and 304 females) whose ages ranged from 25 to 51 years and mean age of 37.5 years and SD = 2.50 from selected commercial banks participated in the study. The participants were chosen through multi-stage sampling technique (purposive, cluster and simple random) to ensure representation across job levels and branches. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression and moderation analysis to determine the influence of workplace spirituality. The results indicated that abusive supervision (r = .47, p < .001) positively related to work alienation, whereas workplace spirituality (r = -.39, p < .003) negatively related to it. The moderation analysis revealed that workplace spirituality weakens the negative relationship abusive supervision. These findings highlight the importance of fostering workplace spirituality to mitigate the adverse effects of rigid and toxic leadership. Organizations should integrate spiritual values to promote employee well-being and reduce alienation. Future research should explore longitudinal effects and sector-wide applications to enhance workplace inclusivity and engagement.
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