The impact of authentic leadership on frontline health workers’ safety performance

This study investigated the impact of authentic leadership on frontline healthcare workers’ safety performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, with organizational identification examined as a mediator. In addition, the study assessed management commitment to safety as a moderator of the relationship between organizational identification and safety performance. Data were collected from 582 frontline healthcare workers in major teaching, regional, and district hospitals in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana, and analysed using structural equation modelling in SMART PLS 4.0. Findings from the study show that authentic leadership significantly influenced safety compliance, safety participation, and organizational identification. Organizational identification also influenced safety compliance and participation. Furthermore, authentic leadership indirectly influenced safety compliance and participation through the mediating effect of organizational identification. Lastly, management commitment to safety moderated the impact of organizational identification on participation but not safety compliance. This study is relevant as it provides ways to improve frontline health workers’ safety performance during pandemics, helping to reduce health worker mortality and morbidity during public health crises. Also, aside from the pandemic, the study offers critical lessons for various high-pressure sectors that emphasize the importance of maintaining safety standards in stressful environments.