Strengthening Lebanese health care: exploring the impact of organizational culture on employee loyalty through trust and job satisfaction.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationships between organizational culture, employee loyalty, trust and job satisfaction within the Lebanese health-care sector. It addresses the critical need to improve employee retention and organizational performance in a context marked by economic instability and political uncertainty. By analyzing data from 270 health-care professionals, the study aims to explore how different aspects of organizational culture - such as transparency, supportiveness and ethical leadership - affect employee trust and satisfaction. These factors, in turn, play a significant role in enhancing employee loyalty, which is crucial for reducing turnover and ensuring the stability of health-care services.

Design/methodology/approach: The research used a quantitative methodology, gathering data from 270 health-care professionals across various private health-care institutions in Lebanon. A structured survey was used, and responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. The SEM approach was chosen for its ability to evaluate both measurement and structural models, ensuring robust validation of the theoretical framework. Partial least squares (PLS-SEM) was specifically applied, given its suitability for smaller sample sizes and complex models. After screening and cleaning the data, the final sample size was 270, ensuring a representative and accurate analysis.

Findings: The research findings reveal that a strong organizational culture significantly enhances employee loyalty, mediated by higher levels of trust and job satisfaction. Cultures characterized by transparency, supportiveness and ethical leadership are shown to build trust among employees, which directly contributes to greater job satisfaction. This satisfaction, in turn, plays a crucial role in strengthening employee loyalty, helping to reduce turnover rates and maintain organizational stability. The study underscores the importance of fostering a positive corporate culture as a strategic tool in health-care settings, particularly in challenging environments like Lebanon, to improve both employee engagement and overall performance.

Originality/value: This study offers originality by focusing on the underexplored Lebanese health-care sector, particularly in the context of organizational culture's impact on employee loyalty, trust and job satisfaction. While much research has been conducted in more stable economies, this study addresses the unique socio-economic challenges faced by health-care institutions in Lebanon, including political instability and economic volatility. By using SEM, the research provides new insights into the critical role of transparent, supportive and ethically driven organizational cultures in enhancing employee engagement and retention. These findings offer both theoretical contributions and practical applications for similar sectors globally.