From Green Inclusive Leadership to Green Organizational Citizenship: Exploring the Mediating Role of Green Work Engagement and Green Organizational Identification in the Hotel Industry Context

Abstract

This study aims to explore the pivotal role of green inclusive leadership (GIL) in driving sustainability efforts in the hotel industry, guided by the social exchange theory (SET). The research centers on three core objectives: firstly, evaluating how GIL directly impacts green work engagement (GWE), green organizational identification (GOI), and green organizational citizenship behavior (GOCB); secondly, examining how GWE and GOI influence GOCB; and thirdly, investigating whether GWE and GOI act as mediators in the relationship between GIL and GOCB. This study gathered data via an online questionnaire, completed by 446 front-line employees in eco-conscious five-star Saudi Arabian hotels. This study employed PLS-SEM with bootstrapping techniques to scrutinize seven hypotheses, encompassing both direct and indirect connections among study variables. The findings underscore the significant, positive influence of GIL on employees’ GWE and GOI, motivating their active participation in GOCBs. Furthermore, GWE and GOI play pivotal roles in enhancing employees’ engagement in GOCBs. Notably, GWE and GOI emerge as substantial mediators in the relationship between GIL and GOCB. These insights carry significant practical implications, poised to strengthen GOCB and drive sustainability initiatives in the hotel industry.