Organizational transformation: The impact of servant leadership on work ethic culture with burnout as a mediating factor in the hospitality industry

Orientation: The study explores the connections among servant leadership, burnout, and work ethic culture in organizations. It aims to provide a detailed understanding of how servant leadership influences work ethic culture, especially by considering the role of burnout. Research Purpose: This study aims to understand how servant leadership influences work ethic culture and explore the mediating role of burnout in this relationship. Motivation for the Study: This study wants to fill gaps in our understanding of how servant leadership, burnout, and work ethic culture are connected. It seeks to add useful insights to what we already know from previous research. Research Approach/Design and Method: The study, using surveys and statistics, examines the links between servant leadership, burnout, and work ethic culture in 113 hotels in Bandung, Indonesia, with 339 participants. A 183-sample, chosen with a 0.05 margin of error, underwent SEM-PLS analysis using SmartPLS 3.0. Main Findings: The key findings underscore that servant leadership exerts a positive influence on work ethic culture, and burnout plays a pivotal mediating role in this dynamic. The results shed light on the intricate dynamics shaping organizational cultures. Practical/Managerial Implications: The findings aid organizations in forming supportive leadership policies, promoting employee well-being, and fostering ethical work culture. Managers can apply these insights to enhance leadership practices and reduce burnout impact. Contribution/Value-Add: This study clarifies the connection between servant leadership, burnout, and work ethic culture. The findings offer insights for future research and practical actions in organizational leadership.