Feelings matter in the digital age: the role of corporate digital responsibility on employee well-being and advocacy behavior

Purpose With growing concern over data security issues, this study aims to explore the role of corporate digital responsibility (CDR) practices on employees’ emotional and behavioral responses in the context of the hotel industry. Design/methodology/approach A total of 386 responses were collected through an online, self-administered survey recruiting hospitality employees using Prolific. Partial least square structural equation modeling was used with SmartPLS. Findings Economic, ethical and philanthropic CDR practices positively influenced employees’ satisfaction with a CDR-implementing hotel. The positive effects of economic and philanthropic CDR on organizational pride were found. However, legal CDR practices had no impact on employees’ satisfaction with a CDR-implementing hotel and organizational pride. Employees’ emotional responses lead to employee well-being and advocacy behaviors. Practical implications Extending the application of cognitive appraisal theory to CDR, results provide suggestions to hotel managers in creating an ethically practiced organizational culture responding to the digital economy. Originality/value Findings of this study identify the importance of CDR practices that positively influence employees’ emotional and behavioral responses in the hotel industry.