PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of the work–family conflict in the relation between ethical leadership and job satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was answered by 234 nursing professionals working in Portuguese public health institutions.FindingsRegression analyses indicate that there is a positive relationship between ethical leadership and satisfaction and a negative relationship between ethical leadership and the nurse's work–family conflict. Furthermore, it was revealed that the work–family conflict mediated (partially) the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsEthical leadership was measured by assessing the nurses' perceptions of their leaders' character. The cross-sectional data limited the possibility of establishing the causality of the study variables, where the generalization of results was not possible due to the fact that data were obtained in public health institutions alone.Practical implicationsConsidering that ethics precede good relations between the manager and collaborator, it is recommended that organizations develop ethical training for their leaders, more specifically in the case of head nurses.Originality/valueThe added value of this empirical study lies in the mediated role of the work–family conflict in the analysis of the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction.

PurposeThe main aim of this study is to explore the moderating role of ethical leadership on the indirect effect of work–family conflict on nurses' job satisfaction via hindrance stress.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was answered by 224 nursing professionals working in public and private health institutions.FindingsA mediation–moderation model was estimated, and the results thereof indicated that work–family conflict has an indirect negative effect on satisfaction through the mediation mechanism of hindrance stress. Results also show that ethical leadership enhances this mediated relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional data limited the generalization of results. Future research should develop longitudinal studies, which will allow for conclusions to be drawn with regard to inferences of causality.Practical implicationsIt is recommended that health organizations should develop ethical training for their leaders. By doing so, they will address two issues: the conciliation between work and family as well as the reduction of job stress, which will subsequently improve job satisfaction.Originality/valueThe originality of this empirical study lies in the exploration of the moderating role of ethical leadership in the indirect effect of work–family conflict, which, in turn, impacts on job satisfaction via the hindrance stress experienced by nurses. The study is innovative in the sense that it seeks to gain a greater understanding of the moderation–mediation mechanisms of the variables under study.