The mediating effect of moral courage in the relationship between virtuous leadership and moral voice

PurposeThe present study examines how virtuous leadership influences moral voice in organisations through moral courage as a mediating variable.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected using a questionnaire survey of 376 employees and their immediate supervisors (289 employees and 87 supervisors), working in 11 firms of medical suppliers. The data were collected from employees and their immediate supervisors at two different phases and on separate questionnaires.FindingsThe results revealed that virtuous leadership has a positive and significant relationship with moral voice. Furthermore, the results showed that moral courage fully mediates the indirect relationship between virtuous leadership and moral voice.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to address the relationship between virtuous leadership and moral voice. In addition, it is the first to explore the mediating mechanism in the relationship between virtuous leadership and moral voice through moral courage as a mediating variable.