Compassion at work: a surprising force behind creativity in the public sector – what is the secret?

Purpose This study focuses on public-sector organizations that rely heavily on employees' creative problem-solving to address citizens' needs. Specifically, this study aims to examine the direct effects of compassion on employee creative problem-solving and its indirect effects through prosocial motivation, while considering the moderating roles of job fulfilment and innovative HR practices. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on dyadic data from 171 paired surveys of full-time employees and their direct supervisors working in public-sector organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Findings This study shows that compassion significantly and positively affects creative problem-solving capacity. This relationship, mediated by prosocial motivation, is notably stronger among employees with higher job fulfillment and in workplaces with innovative HR practices. Originality/value There are limited studies examining the direct and indirect effects of compassion on employees' creative problem-solving capacity in the public sector. This study addresses this gap and expands public sector management literature by examining these effects, emphasizing the roles of prosocial motivation and contextual factors. Additionally, it proposes practical strategies for managers to foster innovation by leveraging job fulfillment and innovative HR practices.