The Antecedent of Employee Engagement and Its Effect on Innovative Behavior: A Religiosity-Based Social Exchange Theory (SET) Perspective

This study aims to analyze the influence of religiosity, spiritual leadership, and work-life balance and its impact on innovative behavior through the mediating effect of employee engagement on the state-owned sharia bank of Central Java Province. The total sample of this study is 226 respondents taken from state-owned sharia bank in 6 Regencies/Cities in the former Karisedenan of Central Java. Samples are taken using a cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique is using the division of regions based on clusters (cities) and is carried out using a purposive sampling method. The results indicate that the indirect influence of all independent variables on innovative behavior through the mediating effect of employee engagement is found to be significant. This study views employee engagement from the perspective of religiosity-based social exchange theory so that religious values in the interaction relationship can be fairly applied and respected by the employees of the state-owned sharia bank. Managers can socialize the importance of spirit behavior to employees so that it can be their everyday attitude and becomes their guide for work. Leaders can become role models in straightening intentions while working as well as conditioning the conscience to always think positively at work by strengthening work engagement in sharia banking institutions.