Skip to main content

Theoretical Insights into the Relation Between CSR and Employer Attractiveness

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Corporate Social Responsibility and Employer Attractiveness

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

This chapter first conceptualizes CSR and then gives an overview about theoretical concepts that potentially explain the impact of CSR on employer attractiveness. It describes how CSR may signal trustworthiness, and analyses under which conditions it contributes to person-organization fit and self-identification. The functions and goal of employer branding are outlined and the relation between CSR, employer branding and trust is highlighted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albinger, H. S., & Freeman, E. R. (2000). Corporate social performance and attractiveness as an employer to different job seeking populations. Journal of Business Ethics, 28, 243–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso-Almeida, M. D. M., & Llach, J. (2019). Socially responsible companies: Are they the best workplace for millennials? A cross-national analysis. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(1), 238–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambler, T., & Barrow, S. (1996). The employer brand. Journal of Brand Management, 4(3), 185–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B. E., & Mael, F. (1989). Social identity theory and the organization. The Academy of Management Review, 14(1), 20–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backhaus, K., & Tikoo, S. (2004). Conceptualizing and researching employer branding. Career Development International, 9(5), 501–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backhaus, K. B., Stone, B. A., & Heiner, K. (2002). Exploring the relationship between corporate social performance and employer attractiveness. Business and Society, 41(3), 292–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrena-Martínez, J., López-Fernández, M., Márquez-Moreno, C., & Romero-Fernández, P. M. (2015). Corporate social responsibility in the process of attracting college graduates. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 22(6), 408–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassen, A., Jastram, S., & Meyer, K. (2005). Corporate Social Responsibility: Eine Begriffserläuterung. Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik, 231–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bretz, R. D., & Judge, T. (1992). The relationship between person-organization fit and career success. Ithaca, NY: Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bustamante, S. (2014). CSR, trust and the employer brand. In J. Reichel (Ed.), CSR trends. Beyond business as usual (pp. 71–89). Łódź: Centrum Strategii i Rozwoju Impact (CSR Impact).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bustamante, S., & Brenninger, K. (2014). CSR and its potential role in employer branding: An analysis of preferences of German graduates. In R. J. Baumgartner, U. Gelbmann, & R. Rauter (Eds.), Making the number of options grow: Contributions to the corporate responsibility research conference 2013 (pp. 31–54). Graz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bustamante, S., Pelzeter, A., & Ehlscheidt, R. (2018). Bedeutung von CSR für die Arbeitgeberattraktivität: Eine Fallstudien-gestützte Untersuchung. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bustamante, S., Ehlscheidt, R., Pelzeter, A., Deckmann, A., & Freudenberger, F. (2021). The effect of values on the attractiveness of responsible employers for young job seekers. Journal of Human Values, 27(1), 27–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685820973522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cable, D. M., & Judge, T. A. (1996). Person–organization fit, job choice decisions, and organizational entry. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 67(3), 294–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, A. B. (1979). A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review, 4(4), 497–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatman, J. A. (1991). Matching people and organizations: Selection and socialization in public accounting firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 36, 459–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, G. R. (1986). Managing your corporate images. [S.l.]: [s.n.].

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutton, J. E., Dukerich, J. M., & Harquail, C. V. (1994). Organizational images and member identification. Administrative Science Quarterly, 39(2), 239–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, M. R. (2010). An integrative review of employer branding and OB theory. Personnel Review, 39(1/2), 5–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Oxford: Capstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (Ed.) (2008). Commission Staff Working Document: Accompanying document to the Communication from the Commission on the European Competitiveness Report 2008, COM (2008) 774 final, Brüssel, 2008. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2011). A renewed EU strategy 2011–14 for corporate social responsibility. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, R. W., & Davis, W. D. (2011). An examination of perceived corporate citizenship, job applicant attraction, and CSR work role definition. Business and Society, 50(3), 456–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feather, N. T. (1975). Values in education and society. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feather, N. T. (Ed.). (1982). Expectations and actions: Expectancy-value models in psychology. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feather, N. T. (1995). Values valences and choice: The influence of values on the perceived attractiveness and choice of alternatives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1135–1151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatewood, R. D., Gowan, M. A., & Lautenschlager, G. J. (1993). Corporate image, recruitment image and initial job choice decisions. Academy of Management Journal, 36(2), 414–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Reporting Initiative. (2019). Consolidated set of GRI sustainability reporting standards 2019. Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Göbel, E. (2006). Unternehmensethik: Grundlagen und praktische Umsetzung. Stuttgart: Lucius & Lucius.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, U., & Schrader, U. (2005). Corporate social responsibility als aktuelles Thema der Betriebswirtschaftslehre. Die Betriebswirtschaft, 65(4), 373–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann, S. (2005). Corporate Sustainability Branding: Nachhaltigkeits- und stakeholderorientierte Profilierung von Unternehmensmarken.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herriot, P. (2002). Selection and self: Selection as a social process. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 11(4), 385–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO. (2010). ISO 26000: Guidance on social responsibility.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kriegler, W. R. (2012). Praxishandbuch employer branding: Mit starker Marke zum attraktiven Arbeitgeber werden. Freiburg: Haufe Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristof, A. L. (1996). Person-organization fit: An integrative review of its conzeptualizations, measurement, and implications. Personnel Psychology, 49(1), 1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C.-P., Tsai, Y.-H., Joe, S.-W., & Chiu, C.-K. (2012). Modeling the relationship among perceived corporate citizenship, firms’ attractiveness, and career success expectation. Journal of Business Ethics, 105(1), 83–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lis, B. (2012). The relevance of corporate social responsibility for a sustainable human resource management: An analysis of organizational attractiveness as a determinant in employees’ selection of a (potential) employer. Management Revue, 23(3), 279–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loew, T., & Clausen, J. (2010). Wettbewerbsvorteile durch CSR. Eine Metastudie zu den Wettbewerbsvorteilen von CSR und Empfehlungen zur Kommunikation an Unternehmen. Institute for Sustainability. Accessed 23 July 2015, from http://www.4sustainability.de/fileadmin/redakteur/bilder/Publikationen/Loew-Clausen-2010-Wettbewerbsvorteile-durch-CSR-Gutachten-fuerBMAS.pdf

  • Meffert, H. (2000). Marketing. Wiesbaden: Grundlagen Marktorientierter Unternehmensführung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, K., Hattrup, K., Spiess, S.-O., & Lin-Hi, N. (2012). The effects of corporate social responsibility on employees’ affective commitment: A cross-cultural investigation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(6), 1186–1200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, E. S. W., Schweitzer, L., & Lyons, S. T. (2010). New generation, great expectations: A field study of the millennial generation. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 281–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petkovic, M. (2008). Employer branding: Ein markenpolitischer Ansatz zur Schaffung von Präferenzen bei der Arbeitgeberwahl. München [u.a.]: Hampp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value: How to reinvent capitalism—and unleash a wave of innovation and growth (pp. 63–70). Harvard Business Review: January/February.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, I. (1971). Self-concept and brand preference. The Journal of Business: B, 44(1), 38–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, D. E., Ganapathi, J., Aguilera, R. V., & Williams, C. A. (2006). Employee reactions to corporate social responsibility: An organizational justice framework. Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 27, 537–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, D. E., Shao, R., Thornton, M. A., & Skarlicki, D. P. (2013). Applicants’ and employees’ reactions to corporate social responsibility: The moderating effects of first-party justice perceptions and moral identity. Personnel Psychology, 66(4), 895–933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rynes, S. L., Bretz, R. D., & Gerhart, B. A. (1991). The importance of recruitment in job choice: A different way of looking. CAHRS Working Paper Series.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, M. (1973). Job market signaling. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 87(3), 355–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Story, J., Castanheira, F., & Hartig, S. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and organizational attractiveness: Implications for talent management. Social Responsibility Journal, 12(3), 484–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stotz, W., & Wedel-Klein, A. (2013). Employer branding: Mit Strategie zum bevorzugten Arbeitgeber. München: Oldenbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel, H. (1981). Human groups and social categories: Studies in social psychology. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behaviour. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7–24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turban, D. B., & Cable, D. M. (2003). Firm reputation and applicant pool characteristics. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(6), 733–751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turban, D. B., & Greening, D. W. (1996). Corporate social performance and organizational attractiveness to prospective employees. Academy of Management Journal, 40(3), 658–672.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. H. (1975). Is there a quest for identity? The Sociological Quarterly, 16(2), 148–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development (Ed.). (1987). Our common future: Bericht der WCED. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silke Bustamante .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bustamante, S. (2021). Theoretical Insights into the Relation Between CSR and Employer Attractiveness. In: Bustamante, S., Pizzutilo, F., Martinovic, M., Herrero Olarte, S. (eds) Corporate Social Responsibility and Employer Attractiveness. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68861-5_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics