The Ethical Workplace and Sustainability: Understanding Employee Green Behavior Through a Moderated Mediation Framework

The premise of this research is to investigate the influence of ethical climate on the environmentally responsible behavior of employees within the hospitality sector in Pakistan. This study aims to further investigate the concept of regulated mediation by exploring the relationship between environmental information and motivational states. The study's methodology, approach, and design were carefully considered and implemented. The data was gathered from a sample of 290 front-line managers in the hospitality sector of Pakistan, employing a research instrument. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesis. (1) The study results indicate a significant relationship between ethical climate and employees' green behavior. (2) Furthermore, the findings indicate that motivational states partially mediate the association between organizational climate and green behavior. (3) Additionally, the results clearly indicate that the influence of ethical climate on motivational states is moderated by environmental knowledge. The present study has significant significance for managers operating within the hospitality sector of Pakistan, as it highlights the relevance of organizational climate in enhancing their environmentally friendly practices. The present study adds to the current knowledge base by investigating the mediating influence of motivational states and the moderating impact of environmental awareness on the association between ethical climate and employees' green behavior within the hotel industry.