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How and When Does Perceived CSR Affect Employees’ Engagement in Voluntary Pro-environmental Behavior?

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Abstract

Scholarly interest in employees’ voluntary pro-environmental behavior has begun to emerge. While this research is beginning to shed light on the predictors of workplace pro-environmental behavior, our understanding of the psychological mechanisms linking the various antecedents to employees’ environmentally responsible behavior and the circumstances under which any such effects are enhanced and/or attenuated is incomplete. The current study seeks to fill this gap by examining: (a) the effects of perceived corporate social responsibility on employees’ voluntary pro-environment behavior; (b) an underlying mechanism that links CSR perceptions to these behaviors; and (c) a boundary condition to these relationships. Data from 183 supervisor-subordinate dyads employed in large- and medium-sized casinos and hotels in Guangdong China and Macau revealed that employees’ corporate social responsibility perceptions indirectly affect their engagement in voluntary pro-environmental behavior through organizational identification, and these effects are stronger for employees high in empathy.

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Notes

  1. It is important to note that empathy is conceptually similar to, yet distinct from, third-party justice judgments (i.e., innate moral and emotional reactions—usually anger- to the perceived unfair treatment of others; Rupp 2011). Specifically, both consist of cognitive and emotional components. That is, feeling empathy and experiencing third-party justice judgments both involve drawing one’s attention to some wrongful event (i.e., cognitive component) and exacerbating feelings toward the event (i.e., emotional component).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau, China

    Qing Tian

  2. Department of Management and Organizational Studies, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, Social Science Centre, Room 4309, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada

    Jennifer L. Robertson

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  1. Qing Tian
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Correspondence to Qing Tian.

Appendix

Appendix

Abbreviated CSR Scale (Turker 2009)

  1. 1.

    Our company participates in activities, which aim to protect and improve the quality of the natural environment.

  2. 2.

    Our company makes investment to create a better life for future generations.

  3. 3.

    Our company implements special programs to minimize its negative impact on the natural environment.

  4. 4.

    Our company targets sustainable growth, which considers future generations.

  5. 5.

    Our company supports nongovernmental organizations working in problematic areas.

  6. 6.

    Our company contributes to campaigns and projects that aim to promote the well-being of the society.

  7. 7.

    Our company encourages its employees to participate in voluntary activities.

  8. 8.

    Our company respects consumer rights beyond the legal requirements.

  9. 9.

    Our company provides full and accurate information about its product to its customers.

  10. 10.

    Customer satisfaction is highly important for our company.

  11. 11.

    Our company always pays its taxes on a regular and continuing basis.

  12. 12.

    Our company complies with legal regulations completely and promptly.

Abbreviated Empathy Scale (Dietz and Kleinlogel 2014)

  1. 1.

    I sometimes find it difficult to see things from the ‘‘other guy’s’’ perspective.

  2. 2.

    I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.

  3. 3.

    When I’m upset at someone, I usually try to ‘‘put myself in his shoes’’ for a while.

  4. 4.

    Before criticizing somebody, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place.

  5. 5.

    I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.

  6. 6.

    Sometimes I don’t feel very sorry for other people when they are having problems.

  7. 7.

    When I see someone being taken advantage of, I feel kind of protective toward them.

  8. 8.

    Other people’s misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal.

  9. 9.

    When I see someone being treated unfairly, I sometimes don’t feel very much pity for them.

  10. 10.

    I am often quite touched by things I see happen.

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Tian, Q., Robertson, J.L. How and When Does Perceived CSR Affect Employees’ Engagement in Voluntary Pro-environmental Behavior?. J Bus Ethics 155, 399–412 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3497-3

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