Impact of internal corporate social responsibility: a parallel mediation analysis

Abstract

PurposeWorkplace deviant behaviors (WDBs) have a significant negative impact on firms. Present study explores the role of employees’ perception of firms’ internal corporate social responsibility (internal CSR) in reducing their intention to engage in WDB. Social exchange theory (SET) and job demand-resource (JD-R) model form the conceptual underpinning of the study.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses were developed based on a comprehensive literature review and tested on employees working in various public and private sector organizations in India. AMOS and SPSS PROCESS macro were used to test the conceptual model.FindingsEmployees’ perception of firms’ internal CSR reduced their intention to engage in WDB. Occupational strain was confirmed as a mediator in the above mentioned relationship. Further, the study also establishes internal CSR as an antecedent to increased perceptions of procedural justice.Practical implicationsManagers may leverage internal CSR communication as a tool to minimize WDB at the workplace. Moreover, it may also be used to reduce occupational strain and strengthen the perceptions of fairness among employees.Originality/valueVery limited research is available on internal CSR and WDB. Through this study authors contribute to the nascent literature by affirming the negative relationship between internal CSR and WDB using the SET and JD-R model.