Healing With Authenticity: How Authentic Leadership Builds Commitment Among Victims of Harassment in the Public Sector
Author:
- 6 May 2026
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Public Personnel Management
- Vol. 55 (4) , 555-582
Abstract
The article examines how leadership grounded in authentic exchanges fosters the commitment of public sector employees who are victims of workplace harassment. The study findings revealed that authenticity boosts commitment by enhancing team climate. However, authentic leaders are less effective when harassment is substantiated into illegitimate interference with job-related tasks. In this case, harassment undermines the meaningfulness of work and depletes public servants’ work experience. When harassment prevents public servants from contributing to public value generation, authenticity fails to ignite positive work attitudes. Actions should be taken to empower harassed public servants to maintain control over their jobs and preserve positive emotions at work. Perceived loss of control caused by harassment deteriorates the psycho-social attributes of work, spoiling public servants’ commitment.Keywords
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