This study explores hotel employees' perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the proposed conceptual model under the umbrella of self-determination and needs satisfaction theory. The model examines dichotomous perceived CSR relationships - instrumental and volunteer CSR - with employees' basic needs satisfaction, self-esteem, hedonic and eudemonic happiness, and innovativeness. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examines the assumed hypotheses. The results established that hotel employees perceived instrumental CSR has a significant positive influence on the satisfaction of their basic needs, and perceived volunteer CSR impact employees' self-esteem. Employees' basic needs satisfaction demonstrated a significant positive influence on their hedonic happiness and self-esteem on eudemonic happiness. Both hedonic and eudemonic happiness contribute significantly to employee innovativeness, where, eudemonic happiness contribution is higher than hedonic happiness. The findings expand the literature on CSR by providing a better understanding of the core mechanism through which CSR can influence hotel employees' happiness, where, a happy employee is a key to innovativeness, competitiveness, and better organizational performance.