Mediating Role of Work-Place-Harmony on Emotional Exhaustion and Employees' Performance at Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State

Abstract

Employee performance remains a critical determinant of organizational sustainability; however, it is increasingly
undermined by rising levels of burnout within higher education institutions. This study examined the mediating role
of workplace harmony in the relationship between emotional exhaustion and employee performance at the Federal
University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. The study population comprised 3,600 employees, from which a purposive
sample of 351 respondents was drawn to obtain insights from individuals directly exposed to work-related stressors.
Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation
Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The results revealed that emotional exhaustion exerted a significant
negative effect on both workplace harmony and employee performance. Conversely, workplace harmony had a
positive and significant effect on performance and partially mediated the relationship between emotional exhaustion
and performance. The study concludes that workplace harmony serves as a strategic organizational resource that can
buffer the adverse effects of emotional exhaustion on employee outcomes. Accordingly, it is recommended that
management prioritize initiatives that foster harmonious work environments and implement comprehensive burnout
management programs to sustain optimal employee performance.