What is CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility is a framework for business’ to think about and prioritise the responsibilities they have towards their employees, managers, stakeholders and social communities. A strong CSR strategy helps create work ethics that act above and beyond basic expectations or legal requirements to which the business operates within.
Our thoughts
Identifying the most ethical ways that an organisation does business that results in a positive influence on society can’t be bad can it? If we’re seen as ‘socially responsible’ and can improve the lives of people or communities we work in, why wouldn’t we?
CSR is used to establish values that that match our mission as a business – to provide Sustainable Recruitment Solutions. Holding ourselves responsible to working and living by certain standards gives us an objective to commit to. It promotes good practice, above the norms of expectations, and in marketing terms, helps our brand. If we are doing good, it’s good for business and that’s a definite win.
However, we would definitely not encourage using a strong CSR message just to influence the media/customers just to gain more business. If you’re not living your values to intentionally do good and improve society, then it’s a little hard to swallow if it’s just for profit.
To get technical for a moment, Professor Archie Carroll presented a model of CSR as a pyramid that displayed four stages to help people to think about the responsibilities of a business.
Philanthropic Responsibilities: “Be a good citizen”: Contribute resources to the community’ improve quality of life.
Ethical Responsibilities: “Be ethical”: Commit to socially accepted ethical standards. Do what is right, just and fair. Avoid Harm.
Legal Responsibilities: “Obey the law”: The organisations commitment to abiding by law and regulations that are expected within the industry and society.
Economical: “Be Profitable”: The organisations basic commitment to generate money to pay employees, manager and shareholders.
If we take levels 1&2 as given, after all we are a business operating within the law, we must hold ourselves responsible for our Ethical and Philanthropic outputs. We hope that operating within the ‘green economy’ and promoting jobs in this sector does exactly that. Believing it to be the right thing to do by getting people into green jobs and thereby contributing to net zero goals along the way, we hope that what we do is in some (even small) way improving society and mitigating climate change.
This may be a lofty claim for a recruitment consultancy but it’s something we work and live by. Since 1994, we’ve promoted working in environmental and sustainable businesses. Whether that’s a role for an Ecologist in an Environmental Consultancy, a PR Account Director in a Sustainable Communications Company, or a Finance Director for an Ethical Investing firm. We hope that doing our bit will improve the quality of life for generations to come.
Get in touch if you're a business with purpose who wants to work with a business with purpose, call Sarah Lay on 01202 888986 or email: slay@allen-york.com
Allen & York providing sustainable recruitment solutions since 1993.