Trust in leaders, work satisfaction and work engagement in public hospitals

Purpose To investigate the relationship between trust in leaders and work satisfaction on work engagement in public hospitals. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 137 employees working in two medium-sized public hospitals. A model based on a review of the literature was developed and tested using variance-based structural equation technique. Findings Work engagement is significantly influenced by trust in leaders and work satisfaction. Work satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between trust in leaders and work engagement. Furthermore, personal development, affiliation and belonging and basic needs for job fulfilment significantly influence work satisfaction. Likewise, basic needs for job fulfilment and co-workers' empathy significantly influence trust in leaders. Practical implications This study indicates that in public hospitals satisfaction and trust in a leader have a substantial influence on work engagement, highlighting the importance of a good trust relationship in the workplace. It is also important for leaders to understand that increased work engagement leads to a well-motivated workforce, improved work performance, low absence from work due to sick leave and a good patient experience. Originality/value Not much research has been done on the direct effects of trust and satisfaction on engagement. Moreover, the study contributes to the existing literature through the development and testing of the “work engagement model”.