THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE TRUST IN LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEE WELLBEING WITH THE MEDIATING ROLE OF WORK LIFE BALANCE: THROUGH THE LENSE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

This study examines how employee trust in leadership (ETiL) influences employee well‑being (EWB) and tests the mediating role of work‑life balance (WLB) through the lens of organizational sustainability. Using cross‑sectional survey data from N = 310 employees, the study finds strong positive associations between ETiL and WLB (r = .762), and moderate positive associations between ETiL and EWB (r = .573) as well as between WLB and EWB (r = .467).  A simple regression shows ETiL explains 32.8% of the variance in EWB (B = 0.617, β = .573).  In the mediation model, ETiL significantly predicts WLB (B = 0.79, p < .001), and both ETiL (B = 0.26, p = .002) and WLB (B = 0.45, p < .001) predict EWB (R² = .5745).  The estimated indirect effect of ETiL on EWB via WLB is ≈ 0.79 × 0.45 = 0.3555, indicating partial mediation (direct effect remains significant).  Results suggest that trust‑building leadership and sustainable WLB practices jointly enhance employees’ well‑being, strengthening human capital resilience.