Employees Happier with Socially Responsible Firms

May 31, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Employees who are satisfied with their company's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) have positive views about their employer in several other key areas, according to a survey by Sirota Survey Intelligence of Purchase, N.Y.

SHRM reports that at least 70% of the 1.6 million employees from the 70 organizations that participated in the survey “are positive about their employer’s commitment” to CSR.

Among employees who are positive about their organization’s CSR commitment, 71% rate senior management as having high integrity, the news report said. By contrast, only 21% of employees who hold a negative view of their employer’s CSR activities say senior management has high integrity.

Additionally, employees who are satisfied with their employer’s CSR commitment are more likely to feel that senior management has a strong sense of direction (67% v. 18% of those who are negative about their company’s CSR commitment), more often reported high levels of engagement with their firms (86% v. 37%), and were more satisfied with their company’s interest in their well-being (75% v. 17%).

Eighty-two percent of respondents who are satisfied with their employer’s CSR commitment also say their organization is highly competitive in the marketplace, while only 41% of employees who are negative about their company’s CSR activities say the same.

According to SHRM, Douglas Klein, Sirota’s president, saidbusinesses committed to CSR are regarded more favorably by employees because the CSR commitment creates a sense of pride, which can be “a major driver of both morale and business results, because people want to be associated with a successful organization that has a positive image.”

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