Overall fairness perception and organizational citizenship behaviour: understanding the moderating and mediating factors

Purpose Synthesizing theories of leadership, organizational fairness and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). This study explores how overall organizational fairness affects OCB by considering the mediating role of organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) and the moderating role of authentic leadership. Design/methodology/approach In two phases, survey data were collected from 79 job incumbents at a financial company. Findings The findings suggest that authentic leadership significantly affects the relationship between overall fairness perceptions and OCB. Moreover, OBSE was found to act as a mediator in this relationship. Research limitations/implications Authentic leadership and organizational self-esteem play crucial roles in fostering a fair work environment that encourages employees to engage in citizenship behaviour. These findings underscore the importance of authentic leadership and OBSE in creating a fair work environment. These findings have implications for human resource management practices and leadership development programs. Originality/value Scholars in organizational behaviour have posited that fairness in the workplace is critical to facilitating effective leadership. However, more research is needed to investigate the interplay and mediating effects of fairness and leadership. The present study offers novel insights into the mediating mechanism of OBSE and its critical role in explaining the positive impact of overall fairness on employees’ OCB.