Introduction

Recent studies have devoted specific attention to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in different types of industries, including the tourism and hospitality industry (e.g.,Bohdanowicz and Zientara, 2008; Eraqi, 2010; Hendersen, 2007; Lee et al., 2012). A number of organizations recognize the necessity of balancing profitability and the development of a positive image through environmental and social responsibility (Lee and Heo, 2009; Mozes et al., 2011). About 60 percent of surveyed industry professionals perceived that their customers expect them to be involved in CSR activities (Musgrave, 2011). As people’s concern for CSR activity increases, firms are under pressure from regulators and auditors, and they find themselves in urgent need of assistance (Fu et al., 2014). According to Tsai et al (2012), “in the context of the hospitality and tourism industry, the concerns on CSR are a response to the guidelines established by the World Travel and Tourism Council and the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as well as the environmental awareness raised by the Green Hotels Association.” (p. 1143). In addition to customers’ expectations regarding CSR, a number of reports mention that at potential employees take account of firms’ social and environmental responsibility when they select their jobs (Quinn, 2013). They may consider whether the firm contributes to the community in an environmentally and responsible manner and whether the business is governed in a fair and transparent fashion. For these reasons, over the past few years, researchers have become interested in understanding the role of CSR in the hospitality and tourism industry (e.g., Cho et al., 2006; Fu et al., 2014; Peng et al., 2013; Tsai et al., 2012). For example, several studies have examined the relationship between firms’ CSR and their financial performance (e.g., Inoue and Lee, 2011; Kang et al., 2010; Levy and Park, 2011) or customer satisfaction (e.g., Bohdanowicz and Zientara, 2008; Lee and Heo, 2009; Martinez and Bosque, 2013). However, limited attention has been devoted to the effects of CSR in the hotel industry from an employee perspective (e.g., Lee et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2013; Tsai et al., 2012). Employees are also among major stakeholders in CSR, and their behaviors and attitudes toward it can have significant implications for organizations.