Who contributed to “corporation green” in China? A view of public- and private-sphere pro-environmental behavior among employees

- We distinguished two dimensions of Chinese employees' pro-environmental behavior.
- Different effects of demographic variables on pro-environmental behavior were analyzed.
- Different effects of work-related variables on pro-environmental behavior were analyzed.
- Chinese employees with low pro-environmental behavior level tended to be localized.

Employees' pro-environmental behavior (PEB) is the key way to promote “corporation green” in China. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were conducted in this study to explore the dimensions of employees' PEB at work in China. The effects of demographic variables and organizational (work-related) variables on employees' PEB and its dimensions were investigated using a one-way ANOVA. Our study showed that employees' PEB in Chinese corporations is a two-dimensional concept, which comprises public-sphere PEB and private-sphere PEB. The global PEB and its dimensions differed significantly with respect to some demographic variables and organizational (work-related) variables. We found that employees with a low PEB score tended to be localized and they were distributed mainly in groups of unmarried employees, employees from the countryside, young employees, employees with an educational level of middle school and below, and employees with lower income satisfaction, as well as both basic-level and high-level employees, and private enterprises and public institutions employees. This study provides practical guidance to improve employees' PEB and to enhance green corporate management.