PEKANBARU – The synergy between ethical leadership and emotional intelligence has proven to be a primary driver in improving employee job satisfaction within the public service sector. Research conducted by Muharti, Albafery, and Darimi from STIE Purna Graha, Indonesia, published in June 2026, reveals that the combination of these two factors accounts for 78.2% of employee job satisfaction levels.
The study was conducted at the Garuda Health Center in Pekanbaru City, involving 44 employee respondents. The researchers employed a survey method using accidental sampling techniques and analyzed the data through a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach using SmartPLS software.
Why Is Job Satisfaction Important?
Job satisfaction reflects an employee's attitude toward their work, which is crucial for productivity and organizational sustainability, including in public health agencies. Dissatisfied employees tend to exhibit decreased performance and higher rates of absenteeism. This research aimed to examine how ethical leadership styles and the ability to manage emotions can create a conducive work environment.
Key Research Findings
Data analysis results revealed that both ethical leadership and emotional intelligence have a positive and significant effect on employee job satisfaction. Below is a summary of the research findings:
- The Influence of Ethical Leadership: Leaders who discuss problems, listen to subordinate input, and prioritize dialogical processes significantly increase employee satisfaction (original sample = 0.503; p = 0.000).
- The Influence of Emotional Intelligence: Employees with a strong ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—including social skills—contribute positively to their job satisfaction (original sample = 0.469; p = 0.000).
- Effective Synergy: The combination of ethical leadership and emotional intelligence creates an effective synergy model with a contribution of 78.2%.
Practical Implications for Organizations
These findings provide practical guidance for organizational management, particularly in the health sector, to focus not only on administrative targets but also on building an inclusive organizational culture. Management is advised to maintain open leadership practices, where leaders act as transparent and honest mentors. Furthermore, developing employees' emotional skills through routine training, such as improving self-awareness and empathy, is highly recommended to achieve optimal levels of job satisfaction.
Author Profile: This research was authored by Muharti, Albafery, and Darimi, academics from the Department of Management, STIE Purna Graha, Indonesia, who specialize in human resource management and organizational behavior.
Research Source:
- Article Title: Synergy of Ethical Leadership and Emotional Intelligence to Increase Employee Job Satisfaction
- Journal Name: Indonesian Journal of Business Analytics (IJBA)
- Publication Year: 2026
- DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/ijba.v6i3.16527
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