How do corporate charitable and economic social responsibility practices help to improve the quality of work life for employees?

Abstract

PurposeThe study compares the corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions of two sectors of hospitality, tourism and travel (hotels and airlines) by researching what Six Sense hotels (a hotel brand) and Air Canada (an airline company) have been doing in order to respond to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they apply the concept of CSR in their operational activities. The article also considers how these activities align with quality-of-life (QoL) dimensions and contemporary CSR dimensions.Design/methodology/approachProvides a detailed comparative, case study analysis of the reported CSR practices of companies in different sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry based on competitive strategy; environmental protection; internationalization of CSR; and transparency and accountability. The impact of the varied initiatives on quality of work life (QWL) and QoL is also considered together with implications for the circular economy (CE).FindingsAnalysis of the two case study examples suggests that these companies' activities are designed to promote sustainability. The findings also suggest that there is a positive relationship between CSR activities and QoL that the case study companies are aware of this and are doing all they can to sustain this relationship given the benefits it yields.Originality/valueUses case study analysis of Six Senses Hotels Resorts & Spas and Air Canada to conduct a comparative analysis of the reported CSR practices of companies in different tourism sectors based on competitive strategy; environmental protection; internationalization of CSR; and transparency and accountability.