Influence of transformational leadership on role ambiguity and work–life balance of Filipino University employees during COVID-19: does employee involvement matter?

Abstract

This research examines the influence of transformational leadership on role ambiguity and work–life balance of university employees in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also analyzes the moderating effect of employee involvement on the link between transformational leadership and role ambiguity. Online survey data were collected from employees at three public universities in the Philippines (n = 522). The data were analyzed using Partial Least-Squares Structural Equation Modeling. The results confirm the effect of transformational leadership on lowering role ambiguity and promoting the work–life balance of Filipino employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the moderating effect analysis shows that employee involvement appears to increase role ambiguity and weaken the effect of transformational leadership on role ambiguity. The results imply that, for employees characterized by high-power distance culture like the Filipinos, the practice of employee involvement in conjunction with transformational leadership appears to weaken the effectiveness of the leaders in lessening role ambiguity of the Filipino employees. The study also implies that leaders who possess transformational leadership characteristics may need to be aware of some management practices that are not in alignment with the cultural characteristics of their employees.