Workplace Inclusivity in the Bangsamoro Region: The Interplay of Employee Engagement, Adaptive Leadership, and Public Administration Practices

Abstract

This  study  investigates  workplace  inclusivity  in  the  Bangsamoro  Autonomous   Region  in Muslim  Mindanao (BARMM),  a  post-conflict region  characterized by  ethnic,  religious, and  geographic  diversity.  Aligning with  Gartner’s  Inclusion  Index,  quantitative data  from 411.  Bangsamoro  employees  were  analyzed  to  assess inclusivity  across  seven dimensions: fair treatment, integrating differences,  decision-making, psychological safety, trust,  sense of belonging,  and diversity. The results indicated  a high overall inclusivity perception (mean = 3.73),  with diversity scoring the highest (mean = 3.92)  and psychological safety the lowest (mean  = 3.55).  Multiple  regression  revealed  employee  engagement  (b = 0.478,  p-value < 0.001),  adaptive  leadership  (b  = 0.244,  p-value  < 0.001),  and  public  administration practices  (b  = 0.207,   p  < 0.001)   as  significant  predictors  of  inclusivity.  Hierarchical regression  highlighted  moderating effects of sociodemographic factors:  (a) age and gender strengthened the impact of adaptive leadership on inclusivity; and (b) ethnicity and geographic location  influenced  the  efficacy of engagement  and  administrative practices.  The  findings underscore  BARMM’s  progress  in  fostering   inclusive  governance   through  participatory policies  and  culturally  sensitive  leadership  while  identifying  gaps  in  psychological  safety and minority  representation. Recommendations include decentralizing  inclusivity initiatives, enhancing  adaptive  leadership  training,  and integrating local equity frameworks  into public administration. This study contributes to the discourse on inclusive governance in fragmented societies and offers a model for balancing national  policies with local implementation. This aligns with the emphasis of the New Public Service framework on equity and collaborative decision-making.