How can you get employees to care about social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not only a moral duty, but also a strategic advantage for businesses. It can enhance your reputation, attract talent, improve productivity, and foster innovation. However, to achieve these benefits, you need to engage your employees in your CSR initiatives and make them feel part of a larger purpose. How can you do that? Here are some tips to help you get your employees to care about social responsibility.
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Marcel FukayamaMovement Builder Towards a Positive Impact Economy
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Samuel Izidor, PhDVisiting Lecturer in Engr in Society, Business Ethics, Strategy, CSR & Corporate Governance at IPS, University of Port…
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Sobhana (Shob-na) Jaya-MadhavanMother, Chief Impact Officer - MSM Unify, Keynote Speaker/Moderator, Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Recipient, Prez…
Your CSR efforts should reflect your core values and goals as a business. This way, you can show your employees how your social and environmental impact is connected to your vision and identity. For example, if you are a software company, you could support digital literacy programs or donate your products to nonprofits. This will help your employees see how their work contributes to a meaningful cause and motivates them to get involved.
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Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that being sustainable is longer sufficient. We need not only mitigate our negative impact, but also generate positive impact. This is a paradigm shift. Secondly, we need to shift the CSR agenda from cost to value. When this is value to the organization, relevant stakeholders as the C-level, board members and shareholders are engaged. If this is value, this is part of the core strategy. Lastly, for any organization that wants to improve their capacity to attract and retain talents, it is imperative that this agenda is embedded in the business model, work environment and value chain.
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1) Make CSR a work culture among employees. Let it be a driver of the culture in the work place. Produce language (voice) modems, gingles, slogans and signages eg it can be designed to form a work place greeting pattern: "Goodmorning, Safety of the Day"; hand signs & written safety warnings; 2) Safety trainings & orientation is key for employees to really imbibe work safety culture 3) Establish a check, recognition system for both reward or reprimand eg such action as recognition of the safety winner of the month etc with financial or material attachments
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Implementing Annual CSR Champion Rewards My most recent employer has a tradition of recognizing top performers, who are judged on both their team selections and annual performance. The award program was discontinued after only two years of introduction since the culture was only dependent on the technical successes of the workforce and there was gossip among other employees. If the strategy was tied to CSR (the employee commitments, creative ways, and stretched efforts to touch society holistically), it might be more acceptable and teachable for others.
You need to inform your employees about your CSR policies, activities, and outcomes. You can use various channels, such as newsletters, intranet, social media, or meetings, to share your CSR stories and achievements. You can also invite feedback and suggestions from your employees on how to improve your CSR practices. By communicating your CSR clearly and regularly, you can increase awareness, transparency, and trust among your employees.
You can encourage your employees to take part in your CSR initiatives by giving them options, incentives, and recognition. You can offer them different ways to get involved, such as volunteering, fundraising, mentoring, or campaigning. You can also provide them with incentives, such as paid time off, matching donations, or rewards. Moreover, you can recognize and celebrate their efforts, such as by featuring them on your website, newsletter, or social media. By empowering your employees to participate, you can boost their engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty.
You can enhance your CSR impact and credibility by collaborating with your stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, partners, or communities. You can invite them to join your CSR projects, share their expertise, or provide feedback. You can also showcase their stories and testimonials on your platforms. By collaborating with your stakeholders, you can create a network of support and influence for your CSR goals and inspire your employees to do the same.
You need to track and evaluate your CSR results and impacts. You can use various tools, such as surveys, audits, reports, or indicators, to measure your CSR performance. You can also compare your performance with industry standards or best practices. By measuring and improving your CSR performance, you can demonstrate your commitment, accountability, and improvement to your employees and stakeholders.
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Social responsibility is every individual’s responsibility as we are all connected and inter-dependent on others for our safety, wellbeing and success. Getting employees to care about social responsibility is mostly about organizational leaders role modelling what it means to be a socially responsible persons and reminding employees about their responsibility to give back to society. As leaders, it’s critical to walk the talk. It’s also important to provide pathways for employees to be change agents in society.
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