Globalization Spurs Social Responsibility
Amanda Benedict
Society for Human Resource Management, March 2007
The Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM) "2007 Corporate Social Responsibility Pilot Study" finds that about 80 percent of surveyed businesses in seven countries are developing or have developed some type of strategy or program. In other words, according to SHRM's research, corporate social responsibility is one result of corporations going global.
The study found that practices ranged from donating to local charities to monitoring global fair labor standards. HR professionals in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico and the United States were surveyed.
Notably, the report shows that 64 percent of respondents from China think providing company-sponsored volunteer events after work hours is the best method of involving employees in these programs. However, more than 70 percent of respondents in the U.S. value employee recognition as the best way to involve employees in corporate social responsibility programs.
Corresponding numbers from other countries include 68 percent in Canada and 66 percent in Australia.
Over 65 percent of HR professionals in Australia, Canada, China, India, Mexico and the U.S. promote their organizations' efforts via a corporate publication, with nearly 80 percent of HR professionals in Brazil relying on the same internal communication, the report says.
The report also shows that more than 60 percent of businesses in Brazil consider the overall impact of their business decisions on corporate social responsibility policies. Over 45 percent of HR professionals in the U.S. and over 25 percent of HR professionals in Mexico saying the same thing.
The study also looked at who in the organization is ultimately responsible for creating the strategies. In India, over 30 percent of HR professionals think that task should rest with the CEO. In Canada, nearly the same percentage of HR professionals think it should be a responsibility of the senior management team. And in Mexico, over 40 percent think it should be the board of directors' duty.
