Employee negative reactions to CSR: Corporate hypocrisy and symbolic CSR attributions as serial mediators

Abstract

Although previous hospitality studies investigated the impact of CSR directed at various stakeholders, these studies have largely overlooked the impact of perceived inconsistent CSR (ICSR) strategies on unexpected employee outcomes. To fill the gap, this study investigates how perceived ICSR strategies affect employee deviant behavior through perceived corporate hypocrisy and symbolic CSR attributions (SCSRAs). Survey data were collected 472 employees working in four- and five-star hotels in Antalya, Turkiye and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings indicate that perceived ICSR strategies has a positive impact on perceived corporate hypocrisy and SCSRAs. Corporate hypocrisy and SCSRAs play a serial mediating role between perceived ICSR strategies and employee deviant behavior. This research enriches our understanding of the challenges faced by hospitality organizations in coping with CSR issues effectively.