The impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on employee relations in multinational and local companies in Vietnam: The mediating roles of leadership support and organizational culture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56097/binhduonguniversityjournalofscienceandtechnology.v8i4.356Keywords:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); Employee Relations; Leadership Support; Organizational Culture; Multinational Corporations (MNCs); Vietnam; Social Exchange Theory (SET); Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)Abstract
This study explores the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
initiatives on employee relations within the context of multinational corporations (MNCs)
and local companies in Vietnam. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory (SET), the research
investigates the direct effect of DEI initiatives on employee relations, as well as the
mediating roles of leadership support and organizational culture. A comparative analysis
between MNCs and local firms is conducted to understand how organizational type
moderates these relationships. Using data from 350 employees across various industries
and employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the results show that DEI initiatives
significantly improve employee relations, particularly in fostering trust, collaboration, and job satisfaction. Leadership support and organizational culture are found to be critical
mediators, amplifying the positive effects of DEI programs. Additionally, the moderating
analysis reveals that the impact of DEI initiatives is stronger in MNCs than in local
companies, suggesting that MNCs benefit from structured global DEI frameworks. The
findings provide theoretical and practical contributions by highlighting the importance of
leadership and culture in DEI implementation and offering recommendations for both
MNCs and local firms in emerging markets like Vietnam.
