Organizational Trust and Its Impact on Employees’ Voluntary Contributions: A Study on Organizational Citizenship Behavior

In modern work life, employees’ voluntary contributions are critical for organizational effectiveness and sustainable success. This study examines the impact of organizational trust (trust in the organization, managers, and coworkers) on organizational citizenship behavior within the context of the Turkish public sector, specifically among the administrative staff of Karabük University. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from 234 administrative staff at Karabük University. Organizational trust was measured in three dimensions (trust in the organization, trust in managers, and trust in coworkers), while organizational citizenship behavior was assessed across five dimensions (altruism, conscientiousness, courtesy, sportsmanship, and civic virtue). Path analysis results within the framework of structural equation modeling revealed that trust in coworkers has a strong and significant effect on all dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior. Trust in the organization positively influences altruism, courtesy, and civic virtue, while trust in managers supports conscientiousness, courtesy, and sportsmanship. The findings highlight that trust in coworkers plays a pivotal role in promoting organizational citizenship behavior within the collectivist cultural structure of the Turkish public sector, with social exchange processes shaping voluntary behaviors. This research underscores the potential of a trust-based organizational culture to enhance organizational efficiency through organizational citizenship behavior and offers practical recommendations for fostering healthier work environments in the Turkish public sector.