Workplace Challenges
Hopping aboard the social responsibility bandwagonFor many of us, work isn't just about being employed at a j-o-b, it is about belonging to an organization that is socially responsible. |
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 [ 2007-11-14 ] |
Lately, I've noticed that a number of larger corporations are jumping on the social responsibility bandwagon -- and I don't mean that in a negative way, but rather, as an interesting development, whether it's for the right or wrong reasons.
A recent, worldwide focus on the environment has especially spurred companies to fashion progressive policies that in some cases change the way they operate in order to diminish their negative effects on the environment.
Whether these companies are doing it for the positive publicity or out of genuine care for the environment is neither here nor there, because they are taking action regardless of their motive.
Xerox Canada and its parent company Xerox Corporation are taking that a step further.
Together, the corporations recently released their 2007 Report on Global Citizenship, which articulates its aspirations and accomplishments in environmental stewardship and sustainability, workplace practices, ethics and corporate governance, and community involvement.
That's a lot of information to go public with and, perhaps, a very gutsy move on Xerox's part.
"Our commitment to corporate citizenship has been deeply rooted in our values for years," says Ann Mulcahy, Xerox's CEO. "Every day we work hard at doing the right thing -- for our customers, our employees, the environment and the world in which we live." Mulcahy takes that even further by adding that what's right for stakeholders and the global community is also right for her business.
Here are some of the highlights from the report entitled Our Word, Our Work, Our World:
"This year's report highlights the programs and the policies that support our commitment and drive us to a new level of achievement, year after year," Mulcahy says.
The full report is available online at www.xerox.com/citizenship and goes into great detail about how Xerox is strengthening its environmental goals, formalizing its practices and policies on human rights around the world, and its principals, policies and practices in areas such as governance and ethics, customer privacy and satisfaction, employee diversity and development, and corporate donations and volunteerism.
"The journey that we have followed in environmental stewardship -- from altruism to business opportunity -- is true of all our citizenship strategies: ethical government, community involvement, philanthropy and delivering customer value," Mulcahy says. "All have followed a similar path, starting as the right thing to do, maturing into good business practices and eventually becoming integrated into the way we manage our operations."
That Xerox -- and many other corporations -- are willing to put on the public record what their commitments are to so many areas of their business practices is commendable and, when you think about it, quite risky.
The last thing any company wants to do is get caught saying one thing and doing something completely different. Not only will its business reputation be damaged, but strong employees looking specifically for a company that embraces socially progressive best practices will stay away from it in droves.
And if a company is only as strong as its weakest link, driving good employees away -- for any reason -- is a recipe for disaster.
Do you have you a bad boss?