Corporate social responsibility and employees’ affective commitment

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees’ affective commitment. Three underlying mechanisms are used to explain the relationship between CSR and commitment, namely, deontic justice, social identity theory and social exchange theory.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through survey questionnaires. The sample consisted of 161 employees who work in private and public organizations in Tunisia. Regression analysis was conducted using a multiple mediation model.FindingsThe results reveal a positive and significant relationship between CSR and employees’ affective commitment. The perception of person–organization fit, organizational identification and perceived organizational support mediates the relationship between CSR and affective commitment.Originality/valueWith regard to CSR, past studies have never deal with deontic values in analyzing work behaviors. Furthermore, most previous studies have considered a direct effect between CSR perceptions and affective commitment. This study extends the literature by conceptualizing the indirect mechanisms linking CSR to employees’ affective commitment.