How to Cultivate Public Service Motivation of Employees in Diverse Public Sector Human Service Organizations? The Roles of Inclusive Climate, Workplace Spirituality, and Perceived Dissimilarity

Determinants of public service motivation (PSM) have received growing research attention. However, little is known about how PSM can be cultivated in diverse human service organizations in the public sector. Drawing upon social learning theory (SLT), this study establishes a multilevel moderated mediation model to link the inclusive climate and PSM. Through a three-wave survey design, we gathered data from 418 employees nested within 61 community service stations located in China’s western multi-ethnic regions. Hierarchical linear models were employed to examine hypotheses. The statistical results demonstrate that the organization-level inclusive climate is positively associated with individual-level PSM, and workplace spirituality plays a cross-level mediating role in their relationship. Perceived dissimilarity moderates both the relationship between inclusive climate and workplace spirituality and the mediating effect of workplace spirituality. These findings advance PSM research and provide practical insights into promoting PSM of employees in diverse public sector human service organizations.