Does green servant leadership enhance organizational attractiveness? Sequential mediation of green work engagement and environmental commitment in emerging economies

Purpose Grounded in social identity and job demands-resources theories, this study aims to investigate how green servant leadership (GRSL) influences organizational attractiveness (OA) through the impacts of green work engagement (GWENG) and environmental commitment (EC) in a sequential manner. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from 319 employees of public organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) via an online survey. The model was assessed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The findings reveal that GRSL positively influences OA. GWENG mediates the nexus between GRSL and OA. The findings also suggest that the GRSL–OA relationship is mediated by EC. In addition, GWENG and EC sequentially mediate the effect of GRSL on OA. Originality/value This study advances the environmental management literature by examining the linkage between GRSL and OA. It also augments the current knowledge base through assessing GWENG and EC as key mediators in a sequential manner on the GRSL–OA nexus, providing a more nuanced theoretical understanding of how GRSL can nurture OA.