Does perceived corporate social responsibility decrease organizational cynicism? A social identity perspective

Policies related to corporate social responsibility (CSR) can positively impact both businesses and organizational members. However, the potential outcomes of situations where employees perceive inconsistencies between their organization’s CSR and other practices remain poorly understood. Using social identity theory, we administered 310 surveys to employees in various organizations to examine how employees’ perception of CSR practices affects their organizational cynicism, incorporating the moderating effects of self-sacrificial leadership, perceived organizational justice, and perceived organizational support. The results showed that when self-sacrificial leadership, perceived organizational justice, and perceived organizational support were high, negative perceptions of CSR intensified organizational cynicism. The findings provide a theoretical contribution to the literature on CSR, as well as guidance for managerial practices.