Examining Varying Effects of Companies’ Strategic CSR Communication on Employees’ CSR Participation

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effects of strategic CSR communication on employees’ CSR participation. Drawing on the sensemaking and sensegiving theoretical frameworks, alongside informative, dialogic, and meaning-making strategies in CSR communication. A survey (N = 406) revealed that all three strategies were positively associated with employees’ CSR participation. Further SEM analysis with CSR awareness as a moderator showed that higher awareness of CSR strengthens the impact of informative communication, while lower awareness enhances the impact of meaning-making CSR communication. Dialogic CSR communication’s effect on employees’ CSR participation was not significantly influenced by varying CSR awareness. Theoretically, this study advances the internal CSR communication literature by contrasting different organizational CSR communication strategies. It also suggests that organizations should incorporate diverse CSR communication strategies in organizational training to enhance employees’ involvement in CSR activities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Renmin University of China [Project No. 23XNF035].