CSR and its impact on employees’ emotions: social information processing

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in reducing employees’ negative emotions. Based on social information processing, a new conceptual framework was developed and tested in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional design was used in the study. A total of 240 managers of financial institutions were surveyed through a self-administered questionnaire, and the responses were collected using a convenience sampling technique. Findings The findings indicated that CSR induces compassion and reduces employees’ negative emotions. Contrary to expectations, compassion did not emerge as a mediator in the relationship between CSR and negative emotions. Originality/value The findings contribute to the literature by scrutinizing the persuading influence of CSR on employees’ negative emotions directly and indirectly through compassion. Furthermore, this study also tested the moderating effects of positive emotion in the relationship between CSR and negative emotions. The linkage between CSR and negative emotions was established by introducing the social information processing mechanism, adding another novelty to the literature.