Silva, PedroMoreira, AntonioMota, Jorge2026-02-122026-02-122023-01-011755-425Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/21262Purpose – Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an evolving concept which is increasingly being adopted by companies with the purpose of creating sustained organizational growth. However, while the impact of CSR practices on employees’ behaviors and attitudes has been recognized over the years, the relationship between CSR practices and employee performance remains underexplored. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on social identity theory and using the partial least squares structural equation method, this research examines the impact of CSR practices on employees’ performance in a sample of 171 employees belonging to the construction industry. Findings – The findings do not support the existence of a direct relationship between employees’ perception of CSR and their performance; instead, they indicate that this relationship is mediated by job satisfaction and organizational trust. Research limitations/implications – The data concerns employees’ self-reported measures on their perceived CSR and the study was conducted in a single industry. Practical implications – Adopting CSR initiatives in company strategies is worthy as the perceptions of employees and their performance is positively influenced by their organization’s CSR activities. Managers should properly communicate and involve internal stakeholders in socially responsible practices to increase their awareness. Originality/value – This article analyzes the impact of employees’ perception of CSR on employees’ performance through the roles of employee organizational trust and job satisfaction as mediating variables in a highly socially pressured industry such as construction.engCorporate social responsibilityJob satisfactionEmployee performanceSocialConstructionIndustryPLS-SEMjournal article2026-01-26cv-prod-318331510.1108/jsma-10-2021-0213