Why Corporate Social Responsibility?
Business and organizations have to get better at not acting as if they operate in a vacuum: they are an integral part of a larger economic, social, technological and environmental network. The health of this network and the value they bring to it is critical to their ability not just for effective operations, but to stay relevant in today’s marketplace. Their commitment to the welfare of society and the environment is increasingly under scrutiny, used as a measure of their overall performance.
Studies show that having a solid CSR can have a significant impact on reputation and brand; investor perception; the ability to attract and retain high-quality workers; community, media, and stakeholder relations; and ultimately your bottom line. It can increase the market value of a company up to 6%, increase long-term shareholder value by over a billion dollars, and reduce the employee turnover rate by a whopping 50% (“Project ROI”, IO Sustainability & Babson College)
The Pitfalls of CSR Poorly vs Well-done...
Many organizations fall into the trap of believing they’ve got their CSR covered. They send out an email reminding the team that garbage pick-up day is coming or to bring non-perishable items for the food drive and give themselves a ‘gold star’ for it. That is not CSR. Your workers, the core ambassadors of your brand, and your clients understand the difference between real CSR and cursory, half-hearted measures. Unfortunately, CSR poorly done results in lost credibility and an uninspired team.
What is Real CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility is about authenticity, living your corporate values, and weaving your business activity into the more extensive community or global picture. It permeates all levels of the organization: strategy, business plans, services and products, workers, projects, leadership, partnerships, etc. You set up your CSR program in an authentic way by starting with the people, not your budget or business plan. Origin’s mission is to empower organizations to empower their teams. When you put them, and those doing business with you, first, you must ask:
What do my people and clients care about? Social issues, the environment, mental health, giving back, better working conditions, effective communication?
And how do we give them more of what they care about?
This is what starts you on the road to a strong, sustainable CSR engagement that links to your corporate strategy.
Learn about our signature L.E.A.D. process to help build your customized CSR program
Times are rapidly changing. It’s vital to not put off yet another year or wait till the next business plan to show you care. New and no-longer so new generations are making their job- and purchasing choices based on very specific values: contributing to a larger whole, to making the world a better place.
Be part of a powerful corporate movement of giving back. We are all linked and play a role in each other’s success.