Employee organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment in hospitality firms: The role of environmental responsibility, leadership and empathy

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of corporate environmental responsibility, green transformational leadership and environmental empathy on employee organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment (OCBE).  This study examines the mediating effects of employee environmental commitment.  The impact of OCBE on firm environmental performance is explored.  The study adopts a quantitative research design and a cross-sectional survey method is used to collect data. The study uses the convenience sampling method and the survey participants are middle-level managers of hotels. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is used for data analysis. The study’s findings indicate the positive effects of environmental responsibility, leadership and empathy on OCBE. In addition, environmental commitment is a mechanism through which the three factors can affect OCBE. The relationship between OCBE and firm environmental performance is positive.  The study’s findings have important implications for policy and practice in the hospitality industry. According to the study's results, corporate environmental responsibility, environmental empathy, and green transformational leadership should be developed.  There is a need for hotels to adopt green practices and incorporate ecological concerns in their strategy and operation. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the links between organisational, leadership and personal factors in explaining employee OCBE in the workplace.