Ethical Leadership and Organizational Justice on Whistleblowing Intention through Psychological Safety among Employees in Service Organizations

Delta Lexi Arbawa; Wahyu Kusuma Dewi; Ihda Nor Rohmah

doi:10.61132/jukerdi.v2i2.1546

Authors

Delta Lexi Arbawa Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Semarang
Wahyu Kusuma Dewi Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Semarang
Ihda Nor Rohmah Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Semarang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61132/jukerdi.v2i2.1546

Keywords:

Ethical Leadership, Organizational Justice, Psychological Safety, Service Organizations, Whistleblowing Intention

Abstract

Whistleblowing plays an important role in maintaining organizational integrity, transparency, and accountability, particularly in service-sector organizations where unethical practices may affect employees, customers, and other stakeholders. This study aims to examine the effects of ethical leadership and organizational justice on whistleblowing intention through psychological safety. A quantitative approach with an explanatory research design was employed. Data were collected from employees of service-sector organizations using a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale and purposive sampling. The proposed relationships were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), including measurement model, structural model, direct effect, and mediation analyses. The findings indicate that ethical leadership and organizational justice positively contribute to psychological safety and whistleblowing intention. Psychological safety also strengthens employees’ willingness to report organizational misconduct and mediates the relationships between ethical leadership and whistleblowing intention and between organizational justice and whistleblowing intention. These findings highlight psychological safety as an important mechanism through which ethical and fair organizational environments encourage employee reporting behavior. Service organizations should therefore strengthen ethical leadership, fair organizational procedures, confidential reporting channels, and whistleblower protection to support organizational integrity.

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