Is connection the key? The mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between relatedness to employee engagement

This study examines the influence of Relatedness Needs (RL) on Employee Engagement (EE) in Bengaluru's Information Technology (IT) Industry, with the mediating role of psychological safety (PS). As the information technology industry experiences continuous innovation and is associated with a high-pressure work environment, aligning the organizational needs with the employee's needs is critical to ensure organizational success. Employees with higher RL needs satisfaction will exhibit positive commitment and higher engagement, contributing to the long-term productivity and success of the organisation. This study examines the extent to which PS, indicating a safe environment promoting transparent communication, sharing ideas and engaging in collaborative decision-making without the fear of negative consequences, mediates the relationship between RL and EE. To test the study's hypothesis, AMOS, Smart-PLS, and structural equation modeling were used to analyse data collected from 304 employees working across companies in Bengaluru's Information Technology (IT) industry. Our findings suggest that having a stronger RL boosts EE through the mediating role of PS characterised by trustworthiness, a sense of safety and fairness at the workplace. The results suggest that fostering higher RL and ensuring a strong PS is vital for sustained EE and reducing turnover intention. This study offers valuable insights into the Information technology (IT) companies intending to boost workforce engagement in a highly pressured work environment.