Abstract
Job performance has become an important concern for organizations facing increasing pressure to improve employee productivity, effectiveness, and overall Organisational competitiveness. Drawing upon positive psychology theory, this study examines the role of gratitude as a psychological mechanism linking individual spirituality and job performance. Individual spirituality is increasingly recognized as an important psychological resource that promotes meaning, purpose, emotional balance, and resilience among employees. Gratitude, as a positive emotional state, has also been associated with enhanced motivation, interpersonal relationships, and workplace well-being. The study collected data from 625 employees working in 25 manufacturing organizations in Punjab, India. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the proposed relationships. The findings revealed that individual spirituality had a significant positive effect on gratitude and job performance. Gratitude also positively influenced job performance and significantly mediated the relationship between individual spirituality and job performance. The results indicate that spiritually oriented employees are more likely to develop gratitude, which further enhances motivation, workplace relationships, and employee effectiveness. The study contributes to the Organisational behaviour literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the mediating role of gratitude in the spirituality–performance relationship within manufacturing organizations. The findings also offer practical implications for managers and HR practitioners seeking to improve employee well-being, engagement, and performance through spirituality and gratitude-based workplace initiatives.
Keywords: Gratitude, Individual Spirituality, Job Performance, Manufacturing Organizations, Mediation, Punjab.