Previous studies have examined the dynamics and consequences of corporate citizenship behavior at the organizational level of analysis without considering how corporate actions impact individual employees. This study explores how an employee’s perception of their company’s corporate citizenship influences their experiences at work.
Drawing on research in corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and corporate citizenship, I develop four hypotheses. I expect that employees who perceive higher levels of corporate citizenship will report higher levels of engagement, high-quality connections, and creative involvement. In addition, the importance of corporate citizenship to the employee should moderate those relationships.
Two surveys were constructed and validated to measure an employee’s perception of their company’s corporate citizenship, and the importance of corporate citizenship to the employee. The surveys are the first scholarly instruments for measuring individual level variables for corporate citizenship. They were pilot tested and show reliability and validity in the dissertation data.
Survey responses from 347 employees in six companies were analyzed with regression and structural equation modeling, The results supported the hypotheses that employees who perceive higher levels of corporate citizenship will report higher levels of engagement, high-quality connections, and creative involvement. However, the moderator hypothesis was not supported.
I conclude that employees are more engaged, develop higher quality relationship, and are more creatively involved when they perceive their company to be a good corporate citizen.