The Effects of Ethical Management on Social Worker's Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intention

Abstract

This study examines the effects of ethical management in social welfare organization on social worker's organizational commitment and turnover intention. Especially, the study investigates mediating effects of superior and employee ethics on the relationships among ethical management, organizational commitment, and turnover intention. The analysis of survey data collected from 339 social workers shows that high ethical management is related to high level of superior ethical leadership and employee ethics, and that ethical management has direct effects on social worker's organizational commitment, but not on social worker's turnover intention. The Structural Equation Model analysis confirms mediating effects of superior and employee ethics on the relationships among ethical management, organizational commitment, and turnover intention. It indicates that both superior ethical leadership and employee ethics affect organizational commitment and turnover intention, but that the effects of superior ethical leadership on turnover intention are larger than those of employee ethics. Finally, the study suggests further implications of ethical organization management and superior ethical leadership for improving organizational commitment and reducing turnover intention in social welfare organization. Keyword: Ethical management, organizational commitment, turnover intention, superior ethical leadership, employee ethics, social welfare organization