| Popis: |
ObjectiveAdvancing social purpose in organizations is usually studied from the macro perspective, i.e., how it benefits organizational business goals or society more broadly. In this paper, we focus on social purpose from the perspective of the employee and propose that advancing social purpose in an organization allows individuals to fulfil an important human need for the meaning of work (MW). This study’s objective was to assess whether a volunteering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in a manufacturing company allows employees to fulfil their basic psychological needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy. The data was collected through in-depth interviews and an analysis of artifacts, i.e., the company's multimedia materials such as employer branding ads and lectures where managerial staff shares knowledge about management strategies in this company.ResultsIn the analysis, three main themes describing different aspects of voluntary work at the company were identified. These themes were related to SDT theory and described how voluntary activities served the needs of (1) relatedness, (2) competence, and (3) autonomy. We conclude that CSR programs have the most positive impact on MW when they allow employees to engage in prosocial actions and satisfy those needs. |
