Employee Need Satisfaction and Positive Workplace Outcomes: The Role of Corporate Volunteering

Abstract

Corporate volunteering (CV) is a fast-growing trend in voluntary action. As an increasing number of not-for-profit organizations receive help from corporations in the form of CV, it is important to build a “business case” for this important collaboration and to better understand why employees volunteer through their workplace. Borrowing from the existing literature and self-determination theory (SDT), we examine how satisfaction of psychological needs through CV affects job satisfaction and affective commitment. Drawing on a survey of 4,127 employees, volunteers show significantly higher rates of job satisfaction and affective commitment compared with non-volunteers. Among employees who participate in CV, relatedness and competence need satisfaction through CV positively affect job satisfaction and affective commitment. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge on CV and SDT and provide practical implications for companies and not-for-profit organizations.