Formation of political trust and support for local government actions during crisis: Hotel employees’ perspectives

Abstract

PurposeThis study explores how institutional and cultural factors influence political trust among hotel employees and its impact on support for local government actions, with implications for hotel leadership and regulatory compliance.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a quantitative approach and structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS), the study integrates institutional and cultural theories of trust. Data were collected from 444 frontline hotel employees via mTurk in May 2021.FindingsThe research reveals insights into the significant role of institutional and cultural factors in shaping political trust among hotel employees. Moreover, it demonstrates a positive correlation between political trust and support for local government actions.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has limitations to acknowledge. The sample size may restrict generalizability, and data from May 2021 might not capture long-term trends. Furthermore, relying solely on quantitative data may overlook individual nuances and complexities.Practical implicationsHotel leadership can leverage these findings to prioritize building political trust among employees, leading to better support for government actions and regulatory compliance.Social implicationsFostering trust between hotel employees and governing bodies can foster more effective collaboration, benefiting the hotel industry and the broader community.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by presenting a novel conceptual model that integrates institutional theory and cultural theory of trust to examine the formation of political trust in the context of hotel employees. The application of this model to the hospitality industry adds to the limited research available in this area.