EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION ACTS AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN TOXIC LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK ENVIRONMENT'S EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE

Job satisfaction is a critical factor in enhancing employee performance. This study examines the impact of toxic leadership and work environments on employee satisfaction and explores whether employee satisfaction serves as an effective mediator in this relationship. The research was conducted through a survey of 42 employees at PT. PLN (Persero), utilizing a saturation sampling technique. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data. The findings indicate that both toxic leadership and work environments have a positive impact on employee satisfaction. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that employee satisfaction mediates the relationship between toxic leadership, unfavorable work environments, and employee performance. The study is constrained by its small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, as the research was conducted within a single organization, PT. PLN (Persero), the results may not be directly applicable to other sectors or organizations with different workplace cultures. Nevertheless, this study provides valuable insights into the role of toxic leadership and work environments in shaping employee satisfaction and performance within a public sector context. By focusing on PT. PLN (Persero), the research offers a model that could be extended to other public organizations to enhance the understanding of employee behavior and inform the development of more effective leadership and work environment strategies.