DO you want to know what’s wrong with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs? I’ll tell you right away—some companies are using it only for tax avoidance, if not for public relations.
This was driven home to me dramatically when I conducted a mini-survey among corporate managers. At first, I was reluctant to do the survey myself but pushed it anyway. And I hope I do not sound too boastful here for showing off my multiple talents.
My original goal was to commission a research agency. I talked to one reputable agency that would have been ideal for this study except for one serious flaw. It allows the prospective service provider to jack the price way up. To be exact, they’re asking for one-half of my total family savings, if not force me to take a second mortgage.
This caused me painful feelings of inadequacy. So in desperation, I wrote a simple questionnaire and sent it to about 500 individuals whom I feel are more than happy to interact with their favorite columnist.
I was under the impression that all one had to do, to obtain a reasonable rate of reply (99 percent) from my target respondents, was to spend a certain amount of time sending spam to people and make them feel proud that they’re part of my exclusive circle.
So I was glad that the results came in less than two days. This troubled me, because 497 respondents went back to me asking a lot of irrelevant questions like, if I’ve to summarize everything in one sentence it would result to this:
“How did you become popular?”
Of course, I was shocked and at the same time elated. Deep in my heart, I know that they’re trying to perpetuate a supposed to be short exchange of ideas. But I felt that if I don’t make any polite reply to these souls who sounded like they’re going to dump me for other columnists who are not yet born.
I had no choice but to be gracious by delivering my personal advocacy on the “green workplace” which is defined by the Society for Human Resource Management as “environmentally sensitive, resource efficient and socially responsible.”
I’d like to believe that this must go beyond the ordinary like the reuse of waste paper for internal purposes, segregation of dry and wet trash, use energy-efficient bulb or cut down on the use of air-conditioning one hour before closing time, among others.
To my mind, a green workplace must be done in consortium with the company’s employee suggestion scheme, quality circle, or any program that maximizes active employee participation.
There’s no need for the organization to reinvent the wheel by creating a stand-alone program. Its implementation can be fast-tracked by including it under a CSR umbrella or any quality and productivity initiatives of the organization.
One caveat though—a green workplace cannot rely on the ability of few corporate geniuses. An organization needs thousands of ideas that can be thought and implemented by employees who must feel that they own it.
In the words of Gary Hamel, management “must rely on its corporate sperm count” which means to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas from people who know the ins and outs of their respective jobs.
This simple management act could make organizations competitive. It may be slow in approach, but the result is strong and long-lasting. That in essence is the conclusion of my faithful readers who are waiting for my next survey project. –Reylito A.H. Elbo, Manila TImes
Rey Elbo is a business consultant on human resources and total quality management as a fused interest. Feedback may be sent to kairoshq@info.com.ph This e-mail address is being protected from spambots.
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