Dual nature of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource management (HRM): A blessing or a curse?

Abstract

With the increase and prominence of CSR, it is important to understand the interaction between CSR and HRM, drawing on multiple institutional logics that shape such interaction in organizations. Drawing on a qualitative study, we reveal context sensitive nature of the CSR-HRM relationship by demonstrating all field-level forces and peculiarities of meso-level influences. We have identified a dual nature in this relationship. This duality is implicated in unintended and intended organizational outcomes, such as exploitation of workforce and democratizing CSR engagements, respectively. We offer multiple contributions to knowledge and practice. By exploring dual nature of the CSR-HRM relationship, we demonstrate multiple roles that the HR function plays in organizations, such as mediating role, regulating and governance role and legitimizing role. We recommend that organizations might better approach CSR from an employee engagement perspective and posit that employees’ perceptions of CSR authenticity and of local needs will transform the dynamics of the CSR-HRM relationship and organizational commitments.