Employee awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles as a driver of corporate social responsibility: a scale development study

Purpose This study aims to develop and validate a multidimensional scale to measure environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness among frontline production employees, addressing a critical gap in understanding how ESG principles are perceived and enacted at the employee level. Design/methodology/approach A theory-driven approach was used to design a 12-item scale grounded in social cognitive theory, moral action model and ethical climate theory. Data were collected via anonymous questionnaires from 486 production workers in China’s Baijiu manufacturing sector. The scale was tested using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to establish its factorial structure, reliability and validity. Findings Results confirmed a robust three-factor structure corresponding to ESG awareness. The model demonstrated excellent fit indices (e.g. comparative fit index = 0.998, root mean square error of approximation = 0.012) and strong internal consistency. The scale captures cognitive, emotional and normative dimensions of ESG engagement. Practical implications The scale provides organizations with a tool to assess and enhance employee-level ESG alignment, supporting ESG reporting, workforce development and sustainable operations. Originality/value This research contributes a novel, psychometrically validated instrument that integrates ESG theory with employee behavioral measurement, offering new insights for embedding sustainability from the ground up.