THE EFFECT OF WORK ETHIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE THROUGH JOB SATISFACTION AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE AT SMKN 1 MERANTI

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of work ethic and organizational climate on employee performance, with job satisfaction serving as an intervening variable at SMKN 1 Meranti. The research involved all 42 permanent employees at the school. Considering the relatively small population, a saturated sampling method was employed, ensuring that every member of the population participated in the study. Data were collected from primary sources through questionnaires and secondary sources through documentation studies, providing comprehensive information about the variables under investigation. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, applying t-tests, Sobel tests, and path analysis to examine both direct and indirect relationships among variables. The findings indicate that work ethic has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction, suggesting that employees with higher levels of discipline, responsibility, and dedication tend to feel more satisfied with their work. Similarly, organizational climate also positively and significantly influences job satisfaction, demonstrating that a supportive and harmonious work environment enhances employees’ perceptions of their jobs. Furthermore, both work ethic and organizational climate were found to have direct positive effects on employee performance, indicating that these factors independently contribute to improved productivity and quality of work. Job satisfaction itself significantly affects performance and functions as a mediating variable, bridging the relationship between work ethic and performance, as well as between organizational climate and performance. Overall, the study concludes that the improvement of employee performance at SMKN 1 Meranti depends on a combination of a strong work ethic, a conducive organizational climate, and high job satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of developing strategies that foster ethical work behavior, supportive organizational environments, and mechanisms to enhance employee satisfaction for achieving optimal performance outcomes.