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Submitter: ImageWorks PR [View SourceWire PR Company Listings]
Press ReleaseUK companies are becoming more
responsible, but are the public convinced?
For publication or broadcast after: 00.01 17 July 2006
British companies are becoming more socially and environmentally
responsible but employees don’t think messages about these improvements
are getting through to the public, according to new research by ISR.
.
The research by the global employee research and consultancy firm,
explores four Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) indicators –
business integrity, environmental responsibility, social responsibility
and public image. It examines the attitudes of 172,800 employees to
reveal whether they think business practices in these areas are
improving. The views of employees from the UK, US, France, Germany and
the Netherlands are included in the research.
CSR on the up in the UK but public regard is in decline
Overall the research shows that the number of UK employees who report
that their organisation acts with integrity and is socially and
environmentally responsible is on the up. In contrast, since 2001 the
number of employees who think that their organisation is highly regarded
by the general public has declined.
The data from the research show that:
• 72% of employees think that their firm operates with integrity in its
external dealings, this figure stood at 67% in 2001.
• 73% of employees think that their organisation is environmentally
responsible, this is up from 66% in 2001.
• 72% of people think that their organisation is socially responsible in
the community, compared to 66% in 2001.
• 51% of employees think that their organisation is highly regarded by
the general public, which is a fall from 2001 when 55% of employees held
this view.
Although there has been a fall over the past five years in the number of
employees who think their organisation is well regarded by the public,
the data reveal that this position could be beginning to improve. In
2004 only 48% of people thought that their organisation is well
regarded. This has risen to 51% but remains 4% below the 2001 figure.
How does Britain compare to other countries?
Despite improvements over the past five years, Britain is still lagging
behind other major economies on some of the CSR indicators examined in
the research. In particular, it reveals that British businesses could do
more to convince their employees that they are environmentally
responsible.
In Britain fewer people than in all the other countries examined think
that their organisation is environmentally responsible, with 73% saying
that this is the case. In the US 82% of employees believe their
organisation is environmentally responsible, and in the Netherlands 76%
report that this is the case.
With only 51% of people in Britain thinking their organisation is highly
regarded by the public, this is lower than any of the other countries
examined. By comparison 71% of employees in the Netherlands think their
organisation is highly regarded, putting them ahead of all the other
countries included in the research.
Commenting on the research, Nick Tatchell, Senior Project Director, ISR
said:
“Genuine CSR is about sustainability – fostering respect for our
environment and the renewal of communities. This research investigates
CSR from the perspective of the employee. As UK companies in general
improve their business practices, they will find that their CSR
activities are less likely to differentiate them from other companies in
the eyes of current and future employees. This research also reveals a
two fold opportunity for responsible organisations: to redouble efforts
to become more environmentally responsible, and to give employees an
opportunity to share their CSR experiences with the public, be they
customers, potential recruits or other external stakeholders.”
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Liz
Marshall, ImageWorks PR on 020 7277 3366 or 07796697593.
Notes for editors
1. ISR is a leading global employee research and consultancy business.
It has been in operation for over 30 years and works with some of the
world’s leading organisations. www.isrinsight.com
2. The research was presented at an ISR seminar on 12th July 2006 at the
Institute of Directors, London.
3. The questions that employees responded to included:
• In my opinion this company is socially responsible in the community
• I believe this organisation is an environmentally responsible company
• This company is highly regarded by the general public
• This company operates with integrity in its external dealings. |
