The Influence of Work Ethics on Public Servants' Performance: Investigating the Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the association between work ethics and employee performance among public servants, with intrinsic motivation as a potential mediator. A total of 366 responses were collected from public servants in Uganda. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in SPSS, followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS version 23. The results indicate a significant positive association between work ethics and employee performance. Work ethics and intrinsic motivation are positively correlated, as well as intrinsic motivation and employee performance. Lastly, intrinsic motivation mediates the relationship between work ethics and employee performance, demonstrating its crucial role in enhancing performance outcomes. The study highlights the importance of fostering strong work ethics and promoting intrinsic motivation within public service institutions to enhance employee performance. Public service managers should focus on creating environments that encourage integrity, accountability, and punctuality while also nurturing employees' intrinsic motivation through autonomy, job satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. These findings not only inform policy and managerial practices in Uganda but also offer valuable insights for other developing countries facing similar human resource and performance challenges in their public sectors.