Abstract:
This study examines the impact of empowering leadership on helping behavior, the
mediating effect of moral obligation, and the moderating effect of Islamic work ethics, based on social
cognitive theory. For this purpose, we have collected data using simple random sampling with a
sample size of 250 respondents. The unit of analysis constitutes frontline employees and senior
managerial staff in the hospitality industry in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to
improve the generalizability of the results. We find that empowerment is a process by which managers
extend value and self-confidence to their employees, encouraging them to work ethically and honestly
and to exhibit helping behavior at work. Social cognitive theory is used to underpin our conceptual
model, positing that people learn and acquire behavior by observing others. Our findings reveal that
hospitality workers express concerns about helping behavior, which is an effective strategy for
increasing employee satisfaction and providing services that distinguish them from their competitors.
