Ethics programmes, perceived corporate social responsibility and job satisfaction

Document Information:
Title:	Ethics programmes, perceived corporate social responsibility and job satisfaction
Author(s):	Valentine S, Fleischman G
Journal:	Journal of Business Ethics, Jan (II) 2008, Volume: 77 Issue: 2 pp.159-162 (4 pages)
Issn:	0167-4544

Keywords:	Business Ethics, Employee Attitudes, Job Satisfaction, Social Responsibility
Article type:	Research paper
DOI:	10.1007/s10551-006-9306-z
Reference:	37AL006 (Permanent URL)
Abstract:	Purpose - To examine whether there is a relationship between corporate ethics programmes (such as codes of conduct and ethics training) and employees' perceptions of their organization's corporate social responsibility (CSR). Investigates, further, whether ethics programmes and perceived CSR have a positive impact on employees' attitudes, specifically, job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach - Drawing on the literature, hypothesizes that ethics programmes are associated with greater perceived CSR activity in a company and with greater individual job satisfaction, and that perceived CSR mediates this positive relationship. Tests these hypotheses using data from a random sample of 313 accounting, human resources and sales and marketing professionals. Findings - Reports that perceived CSR fully or partially mediated the positive associations between four ethics programme variables (presence of ethics codes, communication of an ethics code, presence of ethics training, and hours of ethics training) and individual job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications - Briefly identifies limitations and suggestions for future research. Practical implications - Outlines some practical implications arising from these findings. Originality/value - Provides evidence that managers could prompt more positive beliefs about the firm, as well as the immediate work context and culture, by emphasizing the ethical focus of the organization through ethics codes, training and CSR activity.