The Impact of Workload and Work Risk on Work Performance: The Mediating Role of Work Satisfaction among Sabah Firefighters

This study examines the impact of workload and work risk on work performance, with work satisfaction as a mediator, among firefighters in Sabah, Malaysia. Using the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, the research explores how job demands influence performance in high-risk environments. Data from 321 frontline firefighters were analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The results show that while workload did not directly affect performance, it had a negative influence on work satisfaction, which in turn impacted performance. In contrast, work risk had a positive effect on both work satisfaction and performance. Work satisfaction substantially improves work performance. Work satisfaction mediates the negative impact of workload on performance, while no mediation effect is found between work risk and performance through satisfaction. These findings underscore the significance of work satisfaction in high-demand professions and offer practical implications for enhancing firefighter resilience and performance within the fire and rescue sector