Social Corporate Responsibility

Few weeks back I attended an event that talked about the top 3 qualities that candidates are looking in last 5 years candidates in a company. One of the quality that stood out was a strong commitment for social corporate responsibility, which followed salary and career development.

So I did a little more research and found Initiatives such as philanthropy, support for community-building initiatives and environmental awareness can add significant value to the company, and if the program is well designed the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Benefits

1) It makes the employee more enthusiastic and opportunity to develop their leadership and project management skills through a well-designed corporate social responsibility program.

2) Socially responsible companies report increased employee commitment, performance and job satisfaction

3) An easy way for your company to build its brand, reputation and public profile- Currently I am part of a program for Boys and Girls Club where I am promoting my company's non-profit initiatives (first in this club) and that has enhanced my companies positive image and broaden their influence.

4) Branding the business as ‘socially responsible’ differentiates you from your competitors- One of the living example of this is Walmart-with their multiple social initiatives they have connected with people at a very personal level.

So what should you do next?

It is a highly competitive world out there. If you want people to buy from you, work for you and invest in you – look seriously at corporate social responsibility.

If your company does not have one then start one yourself at a smaller scale and be the person to influence the culture of the company

Social and Moral Calling be part of it!!!!

After a hectic 7 hrs of travel and flight cancellation, I finally reached my destination. Wasn't all this enough for my day that I had to read this extremely disturbing news in USA today. This made me feel that today instead of my usual blog I would write about social and moral responsibility.

I think most of you have been reading this news since last friday on the Olympic Luge's death. It was extremely heartbreaking news for me. This talented athlete died just under the pressure to prove everyone that he is the fastest Luger. The investigation agencies said that it was luger's fault as he was not well verse and didn't have sufficient runs on Whistler. I mean are you serious; just so that the governing bodies come out clean with this incident we blame everything on the person who died. Do we have any moral responsibility?

I agree that atheltes need to be responsible for their safety, however its the society/coaches that create the pressure to be swifter, higher and stronger. This reminded me of one of the shows that I was watching with my husband while his car was getting fixed; "World's strongest man." It literally shocked me of how we are pushing the laws of human body just to win a title; pulling 22000 ton truck with your body; man this babbles me.

More and more of such titles have emerged these days, "most number of hot-dog eater", "fastest eater" and many more..In this we are not only messing up with our bodies but also fast-tracking our death.

Please don't get me wrong I really admire and commend the athletes (that take part in such competitions) and their dedication. BUT I think we are going beyond the laws of nature and physics.

As I was writing this blog, my brain took this incident a step ahead, which I guess most readers can relate to; "Pushing their children/students beyond their limits to be the best in everything." One of my college mate committed suicide after he could not handle the constant pressure from his parents and professor to be the top in his class. I was completely shattered and his parents have still not forgiven themselves for their act.

As a human its our responsibility to step up and draw a line for these activities, or else one day we will find our own loved ones succumbed to death in-process of achieving such fancy titles. Do you think all this is worth it? If your answer is no then all you need is to influence one person and rest will be history....