CSR with Focus on the Employee Perspective

Abstract: Background: During the last decades there has been an increased focus on companies shouldering a greater social responsibility. This is due to globalisation, increased concern for environmental issues and consumer activism. These issues in combination with high-profile corporate scandals have highlighted the concept of CSR, which implies a greater social, ethical and environmental responsibility for companies. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to, through a theoretical exposition, investigate and analyse the concept of CSR, with a main focus on CSR from an employee perspective and its relation to employee wellbeing. This focus will also be illuminated with empirical data. Conduction of thesis: This thesis has been carried out through a theoretical exposition and by conducting eight interviews at a publishing company. Results: Regarding CSR from an employee perspective, we categorised different factors into four groups; physical working environment, formal contracts and agreements, organisational power structure and ethical aspects. The empirical findings showed that all the factors were perceived as important for employee wellbeing but it also pointed to some factors being taken for granted.