Investigating the Influence of Ethical Climate on Trust in Organization and Trust in Supervisor in Albaha Province, Saudi Arabia, Using Victor and Cullen’s Framework

Organizations’ ability to develop trusting relationships is an increasingly significant source of competitive advantage. The current study explores which ethical climate types facilitate and foster higher levels of trust, i.e. trust in one’s supervisor and trust in organization in some public organizations in Albaha province, applying the Victor and Cullen’s (1988) framework of ethical climate. Initial findings of this study showed that most of the participants perceived the presence of caring, laws, and rules climate. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that laws climate was positively and significantly related to trust in organization, as well as laws and caring climate were positively and significantly related to trust in supervisor. No support was found for any effects of ethical climate types, i.e., instrumentality and independence on trust in organization and trust in supervisor.