Corporate Social Responsibility as a source of employee contentment : Case Wärtsilä Finland Oy

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a popular topic among scholars and organiza-tions. Although relationship between CSR and employee satisfaction has been detected, this study aims to reveal how this relationship actualizes. Purpose of this study is to is examine how different types of employees perceive corporate social responsibility and its dimensions. Based on earlier literature these dimensions are stakeholder, social, environmental, economic, legal and voluntariness. Study focuses on different employee types which are millennial white collar, millennial blue collar, gen X white collar and gen X blue collar. The research is conduct-ed as a qualitative case study based on case company Wärtsilä Finland Oy. Study utilizes qual-itative research method to reveal underlying CSR comprehension and difference between different employee types. The empirical study is conducted for the four employee types and each research group consists of one interviewee employed by the case company Wärtsilä Finland Oy.

The findings suggest a correlation between corporate social responsibility and overall em-ployee job satisfaction, however suggesting that open and transparent internal communica-tion is seen as a precondition for employees to comprehend CSR initiatives fully. Millennial white-collar interviewee expressed the highest awareness of CSR and had the highest ethical standards for their employer. Otherwise, research interviewees demonstrated a steady under-standing of CSR dimensions, however all interviewees highlighted that internal corporate cul-ture and communication is lacking. Findings suggest that open, transparent and engaging communication between company and its employees is seen as a precondition to gain full benefits from corporate social responsibility strategy and ensure employees are aware of different various CSR dimensions and initiatives.