Unlocking mental well-being : the role of workplace social support and organisational justice in the public service

Abstract

ORIENTATION : Public service employees are an important conduit through which service delivery occurs. Yet, South African public service employees face challenges that affect how they work. RESEARCH PURPOSE : This study sought to determine the relationship between public service employee’s mental health accounting for the role of organisational justice and workplace social support. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY : Calls exist to understand issues of mental health within the confines of the organisation. RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD : A survey approach utilising a convenience sample of 289 public service employees as respondents was utilised. The location of the study was the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. MAIN FINDINGS : The findings show that workplace social support has a direct and positive relationship with employee mental health. Organisational justice has no significant relationship with employee mental health. Workplace social support was found to fully mediate the relationship between organisational justice and employee mental health. PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS : Strategies can be put in place that inform the promotion of mental health with the public service. These include the need for support services to promote mental health to address organisational issues that impede the pathway of such interventions. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD : The findings proffer useful precursors to interventions that address the challenge of mental health.