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Company support for employee volunteerism: Does size matter?

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  • Basil, Debra
  • Runte, Mary
  • Basil, Michael
  • Usher, John

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between company size and support for employee volunteering. Based on organizational ecology and organizational stages theory, the study hypothesizes that larger versus smaller companies demonstrate greater formalization and codification of their support for employee volunteering. Similarly, larger versus smaller companies use employee volunteering efforts more strategically; this finding is consistent with a need to justify decisions. These outcomes in turn impact the nature of volunteering and the organizations benefiting from such programs. Survey data from a size-stratified sample of 990 randomly selected Canadian businesses indicates that large companies support employee volunteerism in a more formalized and strategic manner than small companies. This behavior includes having formal policies and programs, as well as exercising greater influence over the causes which benefit from employee volunteering. Additionally, large companies are more likely to tie other forms of charitable support to employee volunteering. The article discusses how the more formalized approach of large companies may impact society.

Suggested Citation

  • Basil, Debra & Runte, Mary & Basil, Michael & Usher, John, 2011. "Company support for employee volunteerism: Does size matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 61-66, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:64:y:2011:i:1:p:61-66
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    Cited by:

    1. Johan Lindeque & Olga Samuel & Corin Kraft, 2022. "Small Businesses’ Social Responsibility and Political Activity Survey Studies: A Review, Synthesis, and Research Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    2. Carolin Plewa & Jodie Conduit & Pascale Quester & Claire Johnson, 2015. "The Impact of Corporate Volunteering on CSR Image: A Consumer Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 643-659, March.
    3. Sohier, Alice & Sohier, Romain & Chaney, Damien, 2023. "When volunteers are also consumers: Exploring volunteers’ co-consumption experience in leisure contexts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Groening, Christopher & Kanuri, Vamsi Krishna, 2013. "Investor reaction to positive and negative corporate social events," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 1852-1860.
    5. Gatignon-Turnau, Anne-Laure & Mignonac, Karim, 2015. "(Mis)Using employee volunteering for public relations: Implications for corporate volunteers' organizational commitment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 7-18.
    6. Shetu Ranjan Biswas & Mouri Dey & Swadip Bhattacharjee & Md. Aftab Uddin, 2021. "How Does Corporate Environmental Strategy Contribute to Voluntary Environmental Behavior? Influence of Psychological Green Climate, Firms’ Size, and Employees’ Age," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440211, March.
    7. Meike Eilert & Kristen Walker & Jenny Dogan, 2017. "Can Ivory Towers be Green? The Impact of Organization Size on Organizational Social Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 537-549, February.
    8. Dmitry A. Ruban & Vladimir A. Ermolaev & Antonius J. (Tom) van Loon, 2021. "Exploitation of Mineral Resources Requires Proper People: Expectations of the World’s Top Mining Companies," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Saxena Siddhartha & Premapuri Priyanka, 2012. "Employee Volunteerism : Organisation Oriented Corporate Social Responsibility," Working papers 2012-1-5, Voice of Research.
    10. Anita Kolnhofer Derecskei & Viktor Nagy, 2020. "Employee Volunteerism—Conceptual Study and the Current Situation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-35, October.
    11. Lin-Hi, Nick & Müller, Karsten, 2013. "The CSR bottom line: Preventing corporate social irresponsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 1928-1936.
    12. Jaroslav Mazanec, 2022. "Corporate Volunteering as a Current Phenomenon in Corporate Social Responsibility to Support the Career Development and Professional Skills of Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of t," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, April.
    13. Gordon Liu & Wai-Wai Ko, 2011. "Social Alliance and Employee Voluntary Activities: A Resource-Based Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 251-268, December.
    14. Blanca de-Miguel-Molina & Vicente Chirivella-González & Beatriz García-Ortega, 2016. "Corporate philanthropy and community involvement. Analysing companies from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(6), pages 2741-2766, November.
    15. Seunghee Im & Yang Woon Chung, 2018. "Employee Volunteering Meaningfulness and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Exploring the Effects of Organizational Support, Pride, and Trust," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    16. Seunghee Im & Yang Woon Chung & Ji Yeon Yang, 2018. "The Mediating Roles of Happiness and Cohesion in the Relationship between Employee Volunteerism and Job Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Kofi Mintah Oware & Francis Donkor, 2023. "Does the Practice of Employee Volunteerism Affect Workforce Reduction and Defective Product Issues? Evidence from India," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1369-1383, December.
    18. Rodell, Jessica B. & Booth, Jonathan E. & Lynch, John W. & Zipay, Kate P., 2017. "Corporate volunteering climate: mobilizing employee passion for societal causes and inspiring future charitable action," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69524, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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