From Transformational Leadership to Job Satisfaction: Mediating and Moderating Effects in a Green Organizational Context

The growing emphasis on environmental sustainability has initiated a green transformation within organizations. While this shift has led to notable changes in organizational practices, its implications for employees remain underexplored in the literature. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, this study examines how transformational leadership influences job satisfaction through the mediating role of green organizational identity. It also investigates the moderating roles of perceived greenwashing and employees' green behavior in this relationship. Survey data were collected from employees at a sustainability-oriented textile company. The results reveal that transformational leadership positively predicts green organizational identity and job satisfaction, and that green organizational identity significantly mediates the transformational leadership-job satisfaction relationship. Contrary to expectations, perceived greenwashing did not significantly moderate this indirect effect. These findings highlight the importance of building a strong green organizational identity to achieve positive employee outcomes within the scope of sustainability efforts. It is recommended that practitioners promote green organizational identity through visible, consistent, and active engagement in environmentally sustainable practices within the transformational leadership framework.