Attitudes and Perceptions of Employees toward Corporate Social Responsibility in Western Balkan Countries: Importance and Relevance for Sustainable Development

Boban Melovic, Nikola Milovic, Tamara Backovic-Vulic, Branislav Dudic and Peter Bajzik
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Boban Melovic: Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
Nikola Milovic: Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
Tamara Backovic-Vulic: Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
Branislav Dudic: Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia
Peter Bajzik: Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-37

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to identify the factors that influence employees’ attitudes and perceptions of corporate social responsibilities (CSR), as well as to discuss if there are some significant differences in the application of CSR in the analyzed Western Balkan countries, especially in terms of public and private sector affiliation. This is the first academic survey which examined the employees’ attitudes and perceptions of CSR integrally in five Western Balkan countries. Multivariate factor analysis was applied to data collected from 2410 employees in the analyzed countries. In order to test additionally the results obtained by factor analysis, the Structural Equation Model (SEM) was applied. The results of the research, obtained by multivariate factor analysis and SEM model, show that the largest percentage of employees believe that the CSR concept enables the generating of new values and success of the company, as well as welfare for the whole society. Additionally, companies are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of CSR for the sustainability of their business, as well as the importance of development of sustainable practices in the environment. Based on the results of the research, the authors found out that there were significant differences in the understanding and acceptance of CSR in the analyzed countries, while there were significantly smaller differences between the private and public sectors. The results of the research may serve as a guide for managers when making decisions about implementing the strategy and future activities regarding CSR.

Keywords: corporate social responsibilities; employees’ attitudes; perceptions; Western Balkans; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6763-:d:292114

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