Abstract
Scholarly interest in employees’ voluntary pro-environmental behavior has begun to emerge. While this research is beginning to shed light on the predictors of workplace pro-environmental behavior, our understanding of the psychological mechanisms linking the various antecedents to employees’ environmentally responsible behavior and the circumstances under which any such effects are enhanced and/or attenuated is incomplete. The current study seeks to fill this gap by examining: (a) the effects of perceived corporate social responsibility on employees’ voluntary pro-environment behavior; (b) an underlying mechanism that links CSR perceptions to these behaviors; and (c) a boundary condition to these relationships. Data from 183 supervisor-subordinate dyads employed in large- and medium-sized casinos and hotels in Guangdong China and Macau revealed that employees’ corporate social responsibility perceptions indirectly affect their engagement in voluntary pro-environmental behavior through organizational identification, and these effects are stronger for employees high in empathy.
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Notes
It is important to note that empathy is conceptually similar to, yet distinct from, third-party justice judgments (i.e., innate moral and emotional reactions—usually anger- to the perceived unfair treatment of others; Rupp 2011). Specifically, both consist of cognitive and emotional components. That is, feeling empathy and experiencing third-party justice judgments both involve drawing one’s attention to some wrongful event (i.e., cognitive component) and exacerbating feelings toward the event (i.e., emotional component).
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Appendix
Appendix
Abbreviated CSR Scale (Turker 2009)
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1.
Our company participates in activities, which aim to protect and improve the quality of the natural environment.
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2.
Our company makes investment to create a better life for future generations.
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3.
Our company implements special programs to minimize its negative impact on the natural environment.
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4.
Our company targets sustainable growth, which considers future generations.
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5.
Our company supports nongovernmental organizations working in problematic areas.
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6.
Our company contributes to campaigns and projects that aim to promote the well-being of the society.
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7.
Our company encourages its employees to participate in voluntary activities.
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8.
Our company respects consumer rights beyond the legal requirements.
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9.
Our company provides full and accurate information about its product to its customers.
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10.
Customer satisfaction is highly important for our company.
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11.
Our company always pays its taxes on a regular and continuing basis.
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12.
Our company complies with legal regulations completely and promptly.
Abbreviated Empathy Scale (Dietz and Kleinlogel 2014)
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1.
I sometimes find it difficult to see things from the ‘‘other guy’s’’ perspective.
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2.
I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.
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3.
When I’m upset at someone, I usually try to ‘‘put myself in his shoes’’ for a while.
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4.
Before criticizing somebody, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place.
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5.
I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.
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6.
Sometimes I don’t feel very sorry for other people when they are having problems.
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7.
When I see someone being taken advantage of, I feel kind of protective toward them.
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8.
Other people’s misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal.
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9.
When I see someone being treated unfairly, I sometimes don’t feel very much pity for them.
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10.
I am often quite touched by things I see happen.
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Tian, Q., Robertson, J.L. How and When Does Perceived CSR Affect Employees’ Engagement in Voluntary Pro-environmental Behavior?. J Bus Ethics 155, 399–412 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3497-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3497-3