Micro understanding of the macro: employee perception, corporate social responsibility and job performance

Purpose: This study was aimed at obtaining a micro understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by investigating the effect of perceived CSR on job performance. Especially, an attempt is made to explore the mediating role of perceived organizational support and the moderating role of collectivism on the relationship between perceived CSR and job performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study collected questionnaire data from 219 employees of Chinese manufacturing firms, then used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test our theoretical model. Findings: Our empirical results demonstrate that perceived internal and perceived external CSR are positively associated with job performance. In addition, perceived organizational support mediates the relationship between perceived CSR and job performance, and collectivism positively moderates the relationship between perceived external CSR and perceived organizational support. Practical implications: This study highlights the importance of adopting various strategies to conduct CSR practices, enhancing perceived organizational support and leveraging employee collectivism, which would be beneficial to improve job performance. Originality/value: This study reveals employees’ underlying attitudes and behaviors responses to perceived CSR, thereby deepening the micro understanding of CSR. In addition, it extends the literature on social exchange theory by dividing perceived CSR into perceived internal and perceived external CSR and exploring their separate effects on job performance. Moreover, the study reveals the mediating role of perceived organizational support and the moderating role of collectivism, enriching the knowledge based on social exchange theory.