Improving Organizational Citizenship Behavior through Spirituality and Work Engagement

Abstract

The focus of previous studies on predictors of organizational citizenship behavior has been on individual, organizational and task characteristics as well as leadership behaviors. Despite the greater focus of previous studies on individual characteristics, little is known about the potential effect of spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior. Using the work engagement model and results from previous empirical studies, a framework was developed to examine the effect of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior through work engagement as the mediator. It is expected that workplace spirituality will have positive effects on organizational citizenship behavior and work engagement and work engagement will positively affect organizational citizenship behavior. According to the framework, when employees experience workplace spirituality, their engagement in work roles will be enhanced and they will be more likely to engage in citizenship behavior. The significance of this paper is that it offers a framework as well as hypotheses that could be tested and the framework implies that organizations should establish climates that are spiritually-rich, recognizing the potential predictive ability of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior and work engagement.