Spirituality matters: what activates organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in organizations

Purpose This study investigates the impact of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), emphasizing the mediating roles of affective and ethical commitment and self-integrity as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a purposive sampling technique to collect the data, and 320 samples were collected from business professionals in India. A structural equation modeling (SEM) was adopted to investigate the study model using SPSS, AMOS and PROCESS Macro. Findings The study results revealed that workplace spirituality factors, such as mindfulness, meaningful work and spiritual connection, have a positive influence on OCB, and these relationships positively mediate the affective and ethical commitment. This highlights the importance of workplace spirituality in promoting motivation and fostering deeper human connections that influence employee behavior. Furthermore, the study also observes that self-integrity strengthened the relationship between workplace spirituality and OCB. Practical implications The study highlights the psychological resources that drive employees’ positive behavior, strengthen organizational commitment and encourage ethical practices, ultimately enhancing OCB. Originality/value This study provides a valuable perspective on complex human behavior and the role of spirituality in shaping it. Thereby, offering actionable insights that academic researchers, organizational leaders and managers may utilize to foster a healthy work environment.