The impact of Financial Rewards on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Private Schools in Jerusalem: Employee Engagement as a mediator رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of financial rewards on enhancing organizational citizenship behavior among employees in private schools in Jerusalem, while also examining the mediating role of job engagement in this relationship. The study is based on the theoretical premise that financial rewards, as one of the most important human resource management tools, not only directly influence positive organizational behaviors but also foster employees' psychological and emotional engagement with the workplace. This engagement, in turn, manifests as voluntary behaviors that extend beyond the requirements of formal job roles. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a field survey methodology. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 330 teachers, workers and administrators working in private schools in Jerusalem, based on the Kregsee and Morgan formula. The questionnaire comprised three main sections: financial rewards (salaries, insurance, and benefits), job engagement, and organizational citizenship behavior. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including correlation and regression analysis, and structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect relationships between the variables. The study results showed a statistically significant positive effect of financial rewards on organizational citizenship behavior. The results also demonstrated a strong positive relationship between financial rewards and employee engagement levels. Furthermore, the findings confirmed the partial mediating role of employee engagement in the relationship between financial rewards and organizational citizenship behavior, indicating that financial rewards contribute to fostering positive organizational behaviors to a greater extent when they lead to increased employee engagement. The study concluded with a set of recommendations, most notably the need for private school administrations in Jerusalem to adopt fair and transparent financial reward systems and link them to effective strategies for enhancing employee engagement. This would contribute to developing organizational citizenship behavior and improving institutional performance amidst the economic and political challenges facing the Palestinian education sector. The study also recommended future research addressing other mediating and moderating variables in different educational contexts to deepen the scientific understanding of this topic