A Study on the Impact of Transparent Communication on Employees in the Hospitality Industry: Focusing on Public Institutions

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how employees of public institutions in the hospitality industry perceive transparent communication and to investigate the impact of transparent communication on emotional responses, employee-employer relationships, satisfaction, and turnover intention. Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzed a total of 379 questionnaires collected from employees working in convention centers, tourism organizations, and convention bureaus in Korea. The data were analyzed using simple and multiple regression analysis to test hypotheses regarding the relationships between transparent communication and employees' emotional responses, employee-employer relationships, and the relationships among emotional responses, satisfaction, turnover intention, and employee-employer relationships. Findings: This study demonstrates that transparent communication is closely related to employees' emotional responses, employee-employer relationships, employee satisfaction, and turnover intention. However, even when information is provided transparently, if the organization does not appropriately respond to stakeholders' feedback or concerns, it may not influence mutual control. Furthermore, when managers communicate with employees in a formal manner but fail to provide consistent information or reflect feedback in practice, employees may question the authenticity of the communication. Research limitations/implications: This study explores how employees in public institutions within the relatively under researched hospitality industry perceive transparent communication and investigates the effects of transparent communication on emotional responses and employee-employer relationships. The findings provide foundational data to enhance employee-employer relationships and employee satisfaction by understanding the degree to which employees in public institutions within the hospitality industry perceive transparent communication. Originality/value: This research contributes to the understanding of the importance of transparent communication within public institutions in the hospitality industry and proposes strategies for efficient human resource management. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the significance of transparent communication and provides actionable methods to enhance communication within organizations.