Enhancing Sanitation Worker Performance Through Work Spirit and Work Discipline: The Moderating Effect Of Workplace Friendship

Abstract

This research examines the effects of work spirit and work discipline on the performance of sanitation workers (Yellow Troops) within the Environmental Agency of Cirebon Regency, with workplace friendship serving as a moderating variable. Adopting a quantitative explanatory design, the study surveyed 100 respondents selected through proportional random sampling from a total workforce of 366 employees. Data were gathered using validated questionnaires and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0. Findings indicate that both work spirit and work discipline exert significant positive influences on performance. Moreover, workplace friendship significantly moderates the associations between work spirit and performance, as well as between work discipline and performance, thereby strengthening their effects. The model accounts for 50% of the variance in performance, reflecting moderate predictive capability. These results underscore the necessity of enhancing individual motivation and compliance with operational standards alongside fostering strong interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Managerial recommendations include implementing initiatives to promote teamwork, peer support, and intergenerational collaboration. Theoretically, the study advances the literature by positioning workplace friendship as a social moderator within performance models in labor-intensive public service settings.