The relationship between workplace spirituality and hospitality supervisors’ work attitudes: A self-determination theory perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which workplace spirituality (WPS) is related to hospitality supervisors’ organizational commitment (OC) and intention to quit (ITQ), examined through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on survey data collected from 190 supervisors employed by a large US hospitality organization, the relationships were examined using confirmatory factor analysis, second-order factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that three dimensions of WPS (i.e. meaning and purpose in their work, sense of community and alignment with organizational values) are positively related to OC and negatively related to ITQ. Moreover, these supervisors’ OC fully mediates the negative relationship of WPS to ITQ.

Research limitations/implications

This study tests the validity and reliability of three WPS dimensions in the hospitality environment. It also provides a theoretical perspective through SDT for explaining how WPS impacts employee work attitudes, which can be used to guide future studies.

Practical implications

Hospitality organizations can benefit from the insights of this research into how WPS can increase the commitment and retention of supervisors, who in turn positively impact front-line workers and customer service quality delivery.

Originality/value

This study provides additional implications for SDT and offers new insights into the emerging field of WPS scholarship. While other studies have tested relationships related to involving these WPS variables, a scarcity of research has been offered in hospitality or with a theory-based explanation of these relationships.

Citation

Gatling, A., Kim, J.(S). and Milliman, J. (2016), "The relationship between workplace spirituality and hospitality supervisors’ work attitudes: A self-determination theory perspective", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 471-489. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-08-2014-0404