The well-being and thriving of employees within higher education settings are critical considerations, given their impact on individual health, organizational effectiveness, and student success.
This research investigates the complex relationships among institutional commitment to employee well-being, perceived institutional integrity, and opportunities for strengths utilization (predictor variables), in relation to the thriving of academic staff members (outcome variable) at a private higher education institution in South Africa.


Studying employee thriving is essential because it promotes health and personal development, particularly in today's increasingly stressful and demanding work environments. It is vital for individuals to effectively navigate their careers while maintaining their performance, health, and overall well-being over time.
The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey, utilizing selected items from the Staff Thriving Quotient questionnaire towards the end of 2024, achieving a 100% response rate (N=72). The results indicated that all predictor variables significantly contribute to the thriving of academic staff within this context.
Further analysis of indirect effects revealed that perceived institutional commitment to promoting employee well-being directly influences thriving. Positive perceptions of institutional integrity strengthened this relationship. Conversely, opportunities for strengths utilization in the work environment did not appear to serve as a significant mediating factor.
Practical and managerial implications of these findings suggest that fostering perceptions of institutional integrity plays a crucial mediating role in enhancing employee thriving. Interventions aimed at enhancing perceived institutional integrity may amplify the positive effects of the institution's commitment to employee well-being. Future research should explore additional mediators to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying this relationship.
The contribution of this study lies in highlighting the facilitative role of institutional integrity, providing leaders with insights to enhance employee thriving, which in turn supports optimal work performance and organizational sustainability within this context.