Employee Volunteering as an Element of Corporate Social Responsibility: The Evidence from Polish Listed Companies

Abstract

The concept of CSR is implemented into business practice with the use of different operational and strategic schemes such as environmental protection actions, education and information initiatives, social dialogue programs. The interest in CSR and employees’ engagement in management pictures the shift in the role of companies in society and economy. It also represents significant changes in perception of companies’ dedication to their social performance, stakeholder policy and social dialogue. Employee volunteering is an essential important component of CSR and an important theme in management studies as well as in corporate activities. The paper delivers the review of the literature on employee volunteering and discusses its programs in companies as a component of CSR pointing out standards and recommendations for their implementation. The paper also provides results of the qualitative research on employee volunteering activities undertaken by the 30 largest public listed companies in Poland addressing the issues of employee participation in management and governance. It discusses the employee volunteering policy and programs adopted by listed companies referring them to the post-socialist and post transition reality of Poland.