What Is the Social Responsibility of a Company?
While the primary goal of most businesses is monetary gain, a company has a social responsibility to its employees and community. This means that the company's goals should be ethical. Its treatment of employees must fall within the parameters of the law. Once a company gains a reputation for unethical practices, its business will almost certainly suffer as a result.
Other People Are Reading
-
Fair Labor Practices
-
A company's first social responsibility is to its employees. The company must not participate in discriminatory practices in hiring or governance. The company should treat every employee equally, and each employee should have the same opportunity for advancement. It must exercise a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to instances of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religious denomination, sexual orientation or any other identifying factor of its employees. Neither should it base hiring and advancement decisions on nepotism or favoritism.
Honest Dealings
-
Social responsibility extends from the company's internal treatment of employees to its external treatment of clients and the community at large. The company should avoid and frown upon unethical dealings with clients. It should disavow practices of bribery and coercion. Under no circumstances should it participate in fraudulent dealings that violate the law or codes of ethics. A company with a history of dishonest and underhanded transactions will ultimately find its profits diminished and its reputation tarnished.
-
Environmental Protection
-
To continue its responsibility to the community, the company must do its part to maintain the environment in the area it serves. The company must not engage in activities that cause pollution or other degradation of the environment. It should conserve resources. Initiatives the company can take include opting for electronic records to conserve paper and switching to energy-efficient lighting and other power sources. A company does not need to go completely "green," but it should make its best effort toward environmental awareness and protection.
Social Awareness
-
A company, no matter its size, has the rare position of a public image. Part of its social responsibility is to promote social awareness. The range and types of issues the company can promote are broad. It should initially narrow its focus to the issues directly affecting its community. Whether it is crime, poverty or disease, participating in fundraisers and campaigns to promote awareness and generate solutions will improve the company's standing with the public.
-
