How Does Leader’s Support for Environment Promote Organizational Citizenship Behaviour for Environment? A Multi-Theory Perspective

Abstract

Organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment of employees is indispensable in realizing the environmental sustainability goals of organizations. However, in the growing literature on employee green behaviour at work, scant attention has been paid to the impact of a leader’s specific support for the environment, and the mechanisms through which it impacts organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment. Drawing upon social exchange theory, self-determination theory and theory of normative conduct, we tested the impact of a leader’s support for the environment, autonomous motivation for the environment and perceived group’s green climate on organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment in an integrated model. The sample included 313 executive-level employees of green-implemented textile and apparel manufacturing factories in Sri Lanka. The results of structural equation modelling showed a direct positive impact of a leader’s support for the environment on organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment. Further, autonomous motivation for the environment and the perceived group’s green climate were found to be partial mediators between the leader’s support for the environment and organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment. We discussed the theoretical implications for sustainability literature and the managerial implications for organizational practitioners in promoting organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment.