Political Values, Professionalism, and Work Ethics as Determinants of Public Employee Accountability: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

This study examined the key factors that influence public employee accountability, explicitly focusing on the roles of political values, professionalism, and work ethics. Employing a quantitative, descriptive-correlational research design, data were gathered from 400 permanent employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region XI through validated survey instruments. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify the best-fit model explaining the drivers of employee accountability. Findings revealed that employees exhibited high levels of political values, very high professionalism, very high work ethics, and high accountability. All three variables—political values, professionalism, and work ethics—showed significant positive relationships with accountability. Professionalism emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by work ethics and political values. However, Model 3 indicated that political values exert the most significant direct influence, while professionalism and work ethics have indirect effects. The result emphasized that civic-mindedness, justice, and moral governance, anchored in political values, guide accountable public service. This highlights the importance of promoting integrity, excellence, transparency, and accountability within government institutions. Public officers and leaders are encouraged to promote global awareness, strengthen communication, enrich task design, and institutionalize value-based leadership to sustain professionalism, ethical conduct, and accountability among public employees.