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Employee satisfaction and stock returns during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Becker, Mary
  • Cardazzi, Alexander
  • McGurk, Zachary

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on how employees and employers operate. Employees, directly affected by workplace changes, may provide information regarding future efficiencies. As a result, crowdsourced employee satisfaction (ES) reviews mentioning the COVID-19 Pandemic may contain useful information regarding the future profitability of these firms. We utilize crowdsourced COVID-19 Pandemic specific ES obtained from Glassdoor.com to determine the impact on abnormal stock returns for public firms from March–December 2020. We find evidence that higher COVID-19 ES is related to higher abnormal stock returns. While non-COVID ES is found not to be related to abnormal stock returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker, Mary & Cardazzi, Alexander & McGurk, Zachary, 2022. "Employee satisfaction and stock returns during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:beexfi:v:33:y:2022:i:c:s2214635021001477
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbef.2021.100603
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Hooi Hooi Lean & Fabio Pizzutilo & Kimberly Gleason, 2023. "Portfolio performance implications of investment in renewable energy equities: Green versus gray," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2990-3005, November.
    3. Serge Darolles & Gaëlle Le Fol & Yuyi He, 2023. "Who can better push firms to go "green"? A look at ESG effects on stock returns," Post-Print hal-04462749, HAL.
    4. Ma, Liangbo, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility reporting in family firms: Evidence from China," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19 Pandemic; Glassdoor; Employee satisfaction; Abnormal returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • G39 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Other

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