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Proposing Stewardship Theory as an Alternate to Explain the Relationship between CSR and Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behavior

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  • Shah Ali Murtaza

    (Institute of Management and Organizational Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Asif Mahmood

    (Department of Business Studies, Namal Institute, Mianwali 42250, Pakistan)

  • Saima Saleem

    (Institute of Quality & Technology Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan)

  • Naveed Ahmad

    (Faculty of Management Studies, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Suhail Sharif

    (Institute of Business Management and Administrative Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan)

  • Edina Molnár

    (Institute of Management and Organizational Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

Abstract

The aim of the current analysis is to test the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee’s pro-environmental behavior (E-PEB) with the mediating effect of servant leadership (SL). The data of the current study were collected from banking employees ( n = 392) serving in different banks of Pakistan through a self-administered (paper–pencil method) questionnaire and analyzed by employing structural equation modeling (SEM). The empirical results revealed that CSR directly influences E-PEB; however, this relationship is better explained in the presence of SL as a mediator (mediation explained 35% variation in E-PEB). The findings of this analysis will help academia and the banking industry improve their understanding of CSR to shape employees’ environment-specific behavior. Further, these findings will also help to deal with climate change by engaging the bank employees in different environment-specific activities to improve the overall environmental footprint of a bank.

Suggested Citation

  • Shah Ali Murtaza & Asif Mahmood & Saima Saleem & Naveed Ahmad & Muhammad Suhail Sharif & Edina Molnár, 2021. "Proposing Stewardship Theory as an Alternate to Explain the Relationship between CSR and Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8558-:d:605993
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