Employee Perceptions of Organizational Corporate Responsibility and Their Effect on Employee Organizational Commitment
Abstract
The debate over whether organizations play a part in society beyond economic profit has been a major focus of research in corporate social responsibility (CSR). These debates have been mainly looked at from the macro (societal) or the meso (institutional) level. Very little research has been done on the role of the firm and looking at CSR from the micro (individual) level. Questions regarding the role of work for employees, securing economic benefits or making a difference in the world, would vary greatly depending on the individual and the importance they place on these areas in their own lives. Scholars have become interested in these questions and interest in micro CSR has increased greatly.
This study is a micro level study that looks at internal stakeholder perceptions and personal beliefs and what effect this has on employee organizational commitment. Using a theoretical framework based on stakeholder theory and social identity theory, this quantitative study used primary survey data to investigate these relationships.
The purpose of this study was to examine internal stakeholder perception of their company’s policies and engagement in three segments of external CSR initiatives and how they affect the employee’s commitment to the organization. The segmented areas are broken into initiatives that are related to customers, the environment, and the community. This study also investigated the relationship of individual attitudes and beliefs toward business ethics and sustainability and how those attitudes impacted their employee organizational commitment. The study controlled for age and gender.
The major findings of this research indicate that four independent variables were significant: 1) employee perceptions of their company’s policies and engagement in CSR initiatives related to consumers, 2) employee perceptions of their company’s policies and engagement in CSR initiatives related to the environment, 3) employee perceptions of their company’s policies and engagement in CSR initiatives related to the community and individual attitudes and beliefs towards ethics, sustainability, and 4) corporate social responsibility positively affected employee commitment to the company all proved to be significant.