The Impact of Servant Leadership on Part-Time Workers’ Engagement in the Foodservice Industry

This study examines the impact of servant leadership on employee work engagement in the foodservice industry, with psychological empowerment and organizational support as mediators. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 135 participants through stratified random sampling. Findings indicate that servant leadership indirectly enhances work engagement by foster- ing organizational support, while psychological empowerment plays a key mediating role. The study highlights challenges faced by part-time foreign workers, including international students in South Korea, and suggests that supportive leadership can improve their work experience. Organizations should invest in leadership development and inclusive policies to enhance engagement. These findings reinforce the relevance of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model in diverse workforces and underscore the value of servant leadership in creating a more supportive and empowered workplace.