Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between religiosity, trainees' reaction and motivation to transfer in the context of public sector organizations in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Structured equation modeling is conducted on survey data from 306 public sector employees in Malaysia. Findings The result of this study highlights the importance of religiosity as a trainee characteristic factor that can influence employee reaction toward the training program, and ultimately demonstrates positive intention to transfer the training outcomes to the workplace. In other words, the findings reveal that reaction has a mediating effect on the relationship between religiosity and motivation to transfer. Research limitations/implications - This study provides guidance to training practitioners (e.g. training consultant company), who wish to enhance a positive training reaction of public sector employees in Malaysia. A significant relationship between religiosity and reaction indicates that the importance of religious elements to be included in the training program when conducting training to public sector employees in Malaysia. Originality/value The findings of this study are very important because the relationship between religiosity, reaction and motivation to transfer has not been examined before. Besides, no study on the relationship between religiosity and reaction has been traced. Furthermore, the role of reaction as a mediator between religiosity and motivation to transfer has not been studied so far.

This study examines the relationship between religiosity, training reaction and motivation to transfer. Structured equation modelling is conducted on survey data from 306 public sector employees in Malaysia. The result of this study highlight the importance of religiosity as a trainee characteristic factor that can influence employee reaction toward the training program, and ultimately demonstrate positive intention to transfer the training outcomes in the workplace. The findings of this study is very important because the relationship between religiosity, reaction and motivation to transfer has not been examined in the literature, particularly the relationship between religiosity and reaction, and the role of reaction as a mediator between religiosity and motivation to transfer. (C) 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.uk