Padang – Strong leadership support plays a crucial role in improving employee productivity. Employees who feel appreciated, guided, and supported by their supervisors tend to demonstrate higher levels of work engagement and psychological capital, enabling them to perform more effectively and efficiently. These findings were reported by Della Regina Agustin and Vidyarini Dwita from Universitas Negeri Padang in a study published in 2026 in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR). The research highlights that employee productivity is influenced not only by technical skills but also by the quality of leadership and employees' psychological resources.
In service-oriented organizations, employee productivity is a key determinant of service quality and customer satisfaction. This is especially true for cleaning service employees, whose responsibilities directly affect workplace cleanliness, comfort, and operational standards. Low productivity can result in delayed task completion, declining service quality, and increased customer complaints. Therefore, understanding the factors that enhance employees' motivation and performance has become increasingly important for organizations seeking sustainable competitiveness.
The study is based on the premise that leadership support represents an important organizational resource that helps employees cope with workplace demands. When employees believe their supervisors recognize their contributions, provide guidance, offer assistance, and genuinely care about their well-being, they are more likely to develop confidence, optimism, resilience, and stronger commitment to their work. These positive psychological conditions ultimately contribute to improved work productivity.
To examine these relationships, the researchers employed a quantitative research design involving 149 cleaning service employees at PT UNP Mandiri Berkarya, selected from a population of 237 employees using simple random sampling based on the Slovin formula. Data were collected through five-point Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The study examined four variables: perceived leadership support, work engagement, psychological capital, and work productivity.
The respondent profile indicated that most participants were female (64.4%), while 35.6% were male. The largest age group was 30–40 years old (36.9%), followed by employees younger than 30 years and those over 40 years old. Most respondents had completed senior high school (91.3%), and more than half (52.3%) had worked for the company for over three years. These characteristics indicate that the majority of participants were experienced employees within their productive working years.
Descriptive analysis revealed that all study variables were rated at very high levels. Perceived leadership support achieved an average score of 4.68, work engagement 4.75, psychological capital 4.74, and work productivity 4.72. These findings suggest that employees generally perceived strong supervisory support, demonstrated high engagement in their work, possessed strong psychological resources, and reported high levels of productivity.
The structural model analysis demonstrated that perceived leadership support had a significant positive effect on work engagement, with a path coefficient of 0.682. Employees who experienced greater support from their supervisors showed higher enthusiasm, dedication, and involvement in their daily work. Leadership support also had a significant positive influence on psychological capital, with a coefficient of 0.705, indicating that supportive supervisors help employees become more confident, optimistic, hopeful, and resilient when facing workplace challenges.
The research further showed that leadership support directly improved work productivity, with a coefficient of 0.515. In addition, work engagement significantly enhanced productivity with a coefficient of 0.245, while psychological capital had an even stronger effect, with a coefficient of 0.493. These findings indicate that positive psychological resources play a vital role in helping employees perform more efficiently and effectively.
Another important finding is that both work engagement and psychological capital function as significant mediating variables. Psychological capital mediated the relationship between leadership support and productivity with an indirect effect of 0.348, while work engagement mediated the relationship with an indirect effect of 0.167. This means that supportive leadership improves productivity not only through its direct influence but also by strengthening employees' motivation, confidence, optimism, resilience, and active involvement in their work.
According to Della Regina Agustin and Vidyarini Dwita, these findings support the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, which explains that organizational resources, such as leadership support, strengthen employees' personal resources. When employees receive recognition, constructive feedback, guidance, and practical assistance from their supervisors, they become more engaged, psychologically stronger, and ultimately perform at higher levels.
Based on the study findings, the researchers recommend that organizations strengthen supportive leadership practices by encouraging open communication, recognizing employee contributions, providing constructive feedback, and offering practical assistance in daily work activities. Organizations are also encouraged to invest in employee development initiatives aimed at increasing work engagement and psychological capital through professional development programs, recognition systems, career development opportunities, and activities that promote psychological well-being.
Overall, the study concludes that employee productivity depends on more than technical competence or work experience. Consistent leadership support, positive workplace relationships, high work engagement, and strong psychological capital together create a powerful foundation for improving employee performance and achieving long-term organizational success.
Author Profile
Della Regina Agustin – Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia.
Vidyarini Dwita – Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia.
Research Source
Article Title: The Effect of Perceived Leadership Support on Work Productivity through Work Engagement and Psychological Capital as Mediating Variables on Cleaning Service Employees at PT UNP Mandiri Berkarya.
Journal: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.243
Journal Website: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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