The structural equation model development of how mindfulness promotes employee creativity in the restaurant business

This study examined whether mindfulness can promote restaurant employee creativity, which is crucial in achieving a business competitive edge and sustainable viability, and its mechanism through interpersonal trust and knowledge sharing based on the social capital theory. This study was carried out in Bangkok's full-service restaurant context. Data were collected from 414 restaurant employees, accounting for an 82.80% response rate. A partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis, and the Sobel test and bootstrapping were used to test mediating effects. The results showed that mindfulness empirically promotes employee creativity (β = 0.093; p = 0.028).  Also, according to the PLS-SEM and Sobel test, confirmed by bootstrapping results, interpersonal trust (t = 3.216, p = 0.001) and knowledge sharing (t = 3.053, p = 0.002) can partially mediate the relationship. The results also revealed a positive partial mediation of knowledge sharing between interpersonal trust and employee creativity (t = 9.875, p < 0.001). These results contribute up-to-date and new knowledge in the related literature by supporting and advancing previous research, particularly the benefits of mindfulness, antecedents to employee creativity, and expansions to the social capital theory. This research implies that developing mindfulness in employees could play a beneficial role in improving their relationships with others, resulting in the promotion of their work creativity. In addition, the results provided valuable guidelines for restaurant management to promote employee creativity for sustainable business viability.