The Relationship Between Employees’ Internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is generally implemented by organizations because of legal obligations. In some organizations, the implementation is limited to external CSR activities directed toward society and the environment. Internal CSR (ICSR), which aims at looking after the welfare of employees, can have a positive impact on employees’ perceptions of overall CSR practices (PCSR). Research has shown that such perceptions create a favorable influence on employees’ behaviors, which include organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The aim of this study is to shed light on the role of ICSR practices in enhancing employees’ perceptions of CSR practices, which in turn leads to a favorable outcome such as OCB. Drawing upon the Social Exchange Theory (SET), a conceptual model linking ICSR, employees’ perceptions of CSR practices, and OCB was developed. More specifically, this study examines the role of PCSR in mediating the relationship between ICSR and OCB. In order to test the conceptual model, data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. The Smart PLS 3.0 software was employed to conduct the data analysis. The results validated the positive relation between ICSR and OCB and the mediating effect of PCSR. These findings can help organizations in acknowledging the importance of ICSR implementation and the positive consequences on employees’ OCB.