Green good, employment better? CSR must turn to recruitment, report urges
24 October 2012
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, which traditionally have focused on green issues, must turn towards recruitment that includes disadvantaged groups, according to a new report.
Wed, 24 Oct 2012
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, which traditionally have focused on green issues, must turn towards recruitment that includes disadvantaged groups, according to a new report.
Employment and social inclusion specialists Working Links’ new report, ‘The Responsible Employer’, finds that 76% of firms consider environment and sustainability among their top two CSR priorities, compared to just 12% for recruiting from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Recruitment is the fifth and least-common top CSR policy, then next comes supporting the local community, followed by ethical sourcing and charitable giving.
While over 80% of bosses say they have a duty to help socially disadvantaged people, 35% of employers say they find it difficult to make vacancy appeals targeting people from disadvantaged groups.
Working Links chair Millie Banerjee said: “Customers expect companies to be ‘green’ but employability as a component of their CSR agenda has the ability to make an immediate difference in the communities in which businesses operate and differentiate competitors.
“Businesses must not underestimate the power of initiatives that help people into work. The pleasure people get from helping someone change their life is enormous and this translates into building a motivated, loyal workforce.”
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, which traditionally have focused on green issues, must turn towards recruitment that includes disadvantaged groups, according to a new report.
Employment and social inclusion specialists Working Links’ new report, ‘The Responsible Employer’, finds that 76% of firms consider environment and sustainability among their top two CSR priorities, compared to just 12% for recruiting from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Recruitment is the fifth and least-common top CSR policy, then next comes supporting the local community, followed by ethical sourcing and charitable giving.
While over 80% of bosses say they have a duty to help socially disadvantaged people, 35% of employers say they find it difficult to make vacancy appeals targeting people from disadvantaged groups.
Working Links chair Millie Banerjee said: “Customers expect companies to be ‘green’ but employability as a component of their CSR agenda has the ability to make an immediate difference in the communities in which businesses operate and differentiate competitors.
“Businesses must not underestimate the power of initiatives that help people into work. The pleasure people get from helping someone change their life is enormous and this translates into building a motivated, loyal workforce.”
