The influence of organizational trust and social exchange on organizational citizenship behavior: the mediating role of workplace spirituality

Purpose The field of spirituality is undergoing a transition from an advocacy-based approach to one that is grounded in scientific evidence. The advantages of workplace spirituality for employee performance remain under-researched, however, particularly in the context of service roles. This study addresses this gap by examining the mediating role of workplace spirituality between social exchange, organizational trust and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Design/methodology/approach A two-wave online survey was conducted, with 350 participating Israeli service employees. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test the hypotheses. Findings Empirically testing workplace spirituality and OCB by their dimensions advances the field, exposes unique rather than general relationships. Workplace spirituality’s latent factors were found as mediators: alignment with organizational values mediated the relationship between social exchange, organizational trust and OCBs directed toward individuals (OCBI), whereas meaningful work mediated the relationship between social exchange, organizational trust and citizenship behaviors directed toward the organization (OCBO). Practical implications It would be advisable to give direct attention to strategies and programs that foster workplace spirituality and OCB among employees by HRM and service department managers. Originality/value The current study is the first of its kind to address workplace spirituality as a mediator between social exchange, organizational trust and OCB. The findings serve as a springboard for integrating workplace spirituality into employee performance research.