Ecological and social sustainable change through corporate social responsibility: The enabling role of employees

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides companies with an opportunity to contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, wealth inequality, and fragile economic and political systems. Previous research has primarily focused on examining firm strategies and policies in response to these issues, but has paid limited attention to the involvement and role of employees in implementing CSR within organizations. By adopting a stakeholder theory perspective, this article aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of internal stakeholders regarding CSR initiatives. It also seeks to identify themes emerging from narrative interviews that are relevant to employees engaged in a transformative change process toward sustainability. The findings underscore the crucial role of employees as facilitators of CSR, highlight potential divergent perspectives on sustainability efforts, and recommend the inclusion and empowerment of employees in CSR initiatives. By doing so, organizations can effectively implement ecological sustainability and increasingly address social sustainability both within the firm and in the broader context.

Automated summary

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) allows companies to address global challenges and contribute to areas such as climate change, resource scarcity, wealth inequality, and economic and political fragility. While previous research has focused on firm strategies, this article highlights the importance of employees in implementing CSR initiatives. Through stakeholder theory and narrative interviews, the research identifies employees as facilitators of CSR, acknowledges potential divergent perspectives on sustainability efforts, and recommends the inclusion and empowerment of employees in CSR initiatives. This allows organizations to effectively implement ecological and social sustainability within the company and in broader contexts.