How Can Companies Show Their Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility?

The winds of public opinion have shifted over the last couple of decades. Customers increasingly look at many factors beyond price when making purchasing decisions. The corporate social responsibility of the companies behind products is one of those factors.

Corporate social responsibility describes a business’s acknowledgment of its impact on the community and the steps taken to make that effect a positive one. Organizations can show their level of commitment to their neighbors in many ways.

Let us take a moment to explore some of the strategies companies can use to demonstrate dedication to their responsibilities in society.

Sustainability & The Environment

Employing sustainable, environmentally-friendly work practices helps to showcase a business’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Our planet belongs to us all. As such, organizations should consider environmental protection and conservation of natural resources when making decisions.

On the sustainability front, companies can utilize alternative fuel sources and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels to decrease their carbon footprints. Reductions in electricity, water, and natural resource use also display excellent stewardship.

Moreover, recycling, planting trees, participating in mitigation banks, and investing in sustainable technologies present additional ways to support a sustainable society.

Furthermore, organizations should engage in environmental protection activities to express their dedication to a healthy society. Staying in compliance with environmental laws, regulations, and permits should be a no brainer for any socially responsible company.

Likewise, businesses must engage in the pollution prevention strategies meant to curtail the potentially adverse environmental effects resulting from the business’s operations.

Workplace Health & Safety

Organizations often employ individuals from the surrounding communities to do the work required to make a profit. Thus, businesses have a direct influence on the lives of these workers, including their health and safety.

Another way to show a company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility is through a robust workplace health and safety program. As with the environmental piece above, the organization should strive for a high level of health and safety regulatory compliance.

Additionally, initiatives like wellness programs, home safety awareness training, and behavior-based safety go above the minimum requirements to improve health and safety performance. These items, when incorporated into a health and safety program, help to safeguard workers further.

Ultimately, protecting the health and safety of employees helps mitigate the potentially devastating effects on workers’ families and the community when a workplace injury or illness occurs.

Labor

Organizations also display their pledge to high social responsibility by taking care of their labor force in areas outside of health and safety. Workforce benefits get passed on to the broader community as individuals gain the ability to better care for themselves and their families.

Labor regulatory compliance is essential. The business should be meeting applicable minimum wage, nondiscrimination, child/forced labor, and working conditions laws and regulations.

Beyond those considerations, organizations should be investing in workers through the offering of healthcare plans, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, etc. Programs like these enrich employees and their families and positively impact the greater society.

Community Involvement

Last but not least, community involvement should serve as a cornerstone of a company’s corporate social responsibility efforts. These initiatives most directly influence the community in which a business operates.

The organization should have plans and targets related to corporate social responsibility. So, communicate this information to the community. Also, the public should receive updates on the results of these efforts.

Moreover, companies can volunteer, offer grants, give scholarships, and donate as another means to express their dedication to the community’s vitality. Any complaints or concerns raised by the business’s neighbors should get adequate attention and timely response.

When appropriately employed, the community involvement strategies enhance the relationship between the organization and neighboring areas. That strengthened bond will lead to stellar future wins for all involved.

Final Thoughts

Society expects businesses to behave responsibly. The best-in-class organizations already have sound corporate social responsibility strategies in place to meet these expectations.

Focusing on sustainability and the environment, workplace health and safety, labor, and community involvement can provide a solid foundation for plans around socially responsible behavior. Your organization can showcase its commitment to the ongoing success of the community by using these strategies and taking it one step at a time.

K-M. Denyse Jones, REM, CESM is a seasoned EHS professional who has worked across various industries throughout her career and is the Owner & Principal Consultant for Prorsa Consulting. Twitter - https://twitter.com/ProrsaConsultng