How the ESG practices increase the job satisfaction?

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors on job satisfaction within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), addressing a notable gap in understanding these relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 97 full-time and part-time employees using a tailored survey instrument. Control variables included demographic factors, such as gender, age, marital status and hierarchical position. The study postulated four moderation hypotheses, conducted rigorous significance tests and demonstrated strong model reliability and validity, along with highly satisfactory fit parameters. Findings The findings confirm a positive association between the E, S and G factors and job satisfaction perceptions. Marital status was identified as a moderator in the relationship between social dimensions and job satisfaction. In addition, the multigroup analysis revealed variations in the associations between ESG dimensions and job satisfaction across different age groups, marital statuses and hierarchical positions. Originality/value The main contribution of this research lies in filling a significant gap in the understanding of how sociodemographic variables influence the relationship between employees and socially responsible behavior in SMEs.