Examining the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between leader-member exchange and safety behavior among Algerian healthcare workers.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the long-term impact of leader-member exchange (LMX) on employee safety behavior. It proposes a conceptual model that includes the mediating role of job satisfaction (JS) in the relationship between LMX and safety behaviors, regarding safety compliance behavior (SCB) and safety participation behavior (SPB).

Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 325 health-care workers across public hospitals in Algeria at three waves. Data were analyzed with partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings: The findings revealed that LMX positively influenced employees' job satisfaction. However, the relationship between LMX and SCB was found to be mediated by job satisfaction. LMX was not directly related to both dimensions of safety behavior, whereas JS was positively associated with safety compliance and safety participation.

Originality/value: This is the first paper, to the best of the authors' knowledge, to report on the significant mediating role of JS on the reciprocal process used to exchange resources between leaders and subordinates and safety behaviors among health-care workers, thereby filling an important research gap in existing literature.