Ethical climate influences on employee commitment through job satisfaction in a transport sector industry

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which an ethical climate moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and perceptions of organisational commitment. The study sample consisted of 839 employees of a railway organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (women = 32%). Perceptions of the organisation’s ethical climate were measured using the Ethical Climate Questionnaire (Victor & Cullen, 1998), job satisfaction was measured using the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (Lock, 1976), and organisational commitment was measured using the Organisational Commitment Scale (Meyer & Allen, 1997). Data were analysed by applying hierarchical moderator regression analysis to predict employee commitment from job satisfaction, in interaction with the ethical climate. The findings indicated that the ethical climate dimensions of caring, law and code, rule, independence, and instrumental predicted 72% of the variance in job satisfaction and 73% of the variance in employee commitment. Positive perceptions of an ethical work atmosphere and clear code of conduct would enhance employees’ levels of dedication, loyalty, and commitment to the organisation.