Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Employees’ Coworker Pro-Environmental Advocacy Among Chinese Energy Company Employees: A Sequential Mediation Model

Despite growing attention to corporate environmental responsibility, there is limited understanding of the psychological and social mechanisms linking corporate environmental responsibility to employees’ coworker-focused pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace, such as advocacy directed at peers. This study examined the influence of corporate environmental responsibility on employees’ coworker pro-environmental advocacy in the Chinese energy sector, with a sample of 1528 employees. Focusing on the mediating roles of long-term orientation, meaningful work, and sense of community, the research integrates insights from Social Exchange Theory, Self-determination Theory, and Affective Events Theory. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings revealed that corporate environmental responsibility positively impacted employees’ advocacy for eco-friendly behaviors among coworkers through forward-thinking attitudes, intrinsic motivation, and strengthened social bonds. The study offers theoretical contributions by unpacking the interplay of individual and organizational factors and provides practical recommendations for cultivating an environmentally conscious culture through value alignment, meaningful work initiatives, and fostering a strong sense of community.