Trust in Asian leadership: fostering social responsibility and ethical advocacy in the Vietnamese public sector Human Resource management

This study aims to examine the influence of socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) on moral voice (MV), with a particular focus on the mediating roles of public service motivation (PSM) and affective organizational commitment (AOC), as well as the moderating effect of trust in leadership (TRU). The research employs a social exchange theory framework and uses a questionnaire survey method. Data were gathered from 398 participants, including cadres and civil servants in Tien Giang province, Vietnam, selected through cluster sampling. The findings reveal a significant relationship between SRHRM and MV. PSM and AOC are identified as partial mediators in the SRHRM-MV relationship. The study also uncovers a sequential mediating influence of PSM and AOC in this relationship and establishes that TRU moderates the interaction between SRHRM and subordinates’ MV. This investigation is pioneering in integrating SRHRM, PSM, AOC, and TRU to elucidate the complex mechanisms governing the SRHRM-MV relationship. It enhances understanding of the direct and indirect effects of SRHRM on MV in Vietnam’s public sector, influenced sequentially by PSM and AOC and moderated by TRU. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of SRHRM’s effects in the public sector. It provides practical insights for enhancing employee commitment and fostering ethical behavior through effective human resource management practices.