Organizational envy

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of organizational envy in the relationship between quality of work life, job burnout, and organizational productivity among employees at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. A descriptive-correlational design was employed using structural equation modeling (SEM). A total of 165 employees were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using validated questionnaires: the Organizational Envy Questionnaire (Valizadeh & Azarbayejani, 2009), the Job Burnout Questionnaire (Reis & Xanthopoulou, 2015), the Quality of Work Life Questionnaire (Lopez et al., 2007), and the Organizational Productivity Questionnaire (Hersey & Goldsmith, 2002). Data were analyzed using Smart PLS–4 software, incorporating Pearson correlation, reliability and validity tests (Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, AVE, HTMT), and bootstrapping for mediation analysis. Organizational envy showed significant negative correlations with organizational productivity ( r = -0.43, p < 0.01) and quality of work life ( r = -0.18, p < 0.05), but was not significantly related to job burnout. Quality of work life significantly predicted reduced burnout ( β = -0.417, p < 0.001), lower envy ( β = -0.252, p < 0.05), and increased productivity (β = 0.299, p = 0.001). Organizational envy significantly reduced productivity ( β = -0.384, p < 0.001), yet it did not mediate the relationship between quality of work life and either burnout or productivity. Based on the findings, enhancing the quality of work life directly contributed to reducing job burnout and increasing organizational productivity, underscoring its strategic importance in human resource development.