Corporate social responsibility programmes do not significantly affect prospective employees’ decisions according to a survey from recruitment firm, Hudson. The survey, which was a national poll of 2,000 US workers conducted in early August, finds that only 7% had rejected a job on the basis of CSR issues while 70% do not consider a company’s CSR program when deciding whether to work for them or not.
Despite these attitudes when job-hunting, just under half of those questioned believed it was important for companies to have these programs in place with two thirds of those with CSR programs at their firms participating in them. The research was conducted on behalf of Hudson by Rasmussen Reports.
When it comes to public opinion polls, it seems we are used to people expressing platitudes and extolling the virtues of motherhood and apple pie. Survey after survey suggests the majority of consumers, investors and employees want to associate themselves only with responsible companies. So, the publication of new research that claims people are not concerned about corporate responsibility merits careful note. As is often the case, the story beneath the headline is a little more complex. The primary purpose of the survey is to track, month by month, employees’ confidence in the employment market through an assessment of such issues as hiring intentions, financial security and job satisfaction. In August, there was a six-point drop (from 43 to 37 percent) in the number of workers who said their financial situation was improving. At the same time, there was a small but significant rise in the number of workers forecasting layoffs at their companies, with a concomitant increase in the number concerned about losing their job. Overall, it is fair to say that this is a sample of employees who are focusing on short term issues of job security. In addition, it is perhaps worth noting that the majority (almost three quarters) are in companies with less than 500 employees. This does not mean that the results of this research can be discounted in anyway – the fact remains that among this particular group of employees corporate responsibility is not a key issue in selecting their next employer.
The lesson here is that we should not always accept the headline figures without some rigorous assessment of the data behind them. It is too easy to rely on opinion surveys to make the case for corporate responsibility. In today’s environment of constant polling and opinion gathering, decisions need to be based on a hard assessment of what is being measured and a considered judgement of the evidence.
Equal opportunities
Other groups besides women experience the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon when seeking to advance their careers according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The online survey, published on August 5, questioned 200 employees from diverse backgrounds and found that only 19% felt career advancement was easy with opportunities open to them. Those questioned were from groups based on age, ethnicity and disability amongst others.
The CIPD says that this research can help advance understanding as to why representation of diverse groups decreases higher up the professional ladder. The CIPD also notes that these findings have important implications for employers if they want to attract and retain talent.
In a survey carried out by Social Enterprise London where over 160 organisations were consulted, 59% of employees who worked for a social enterprise said they were proud of where they worked, compared to 27% of workers across other sectors.
The survey, published on August 9, also found that 67% agreed with the mission and goals of their company, compared to 30% in other sectors, and that a much higher percentage of social enterprise employees did not think discrimination was an issue in their workplaces compared to other sectors.
The public sector is the most parent-friendly sector according to a survey by The Guardian, which was published on July 30. The survey considered 250 organisations in the private, charitable and public sector.
The newspaper considered issues such as pay during maternity leave and how long a firm required a person to work before she qualified for that pay. Each employer in each sector were ranked as either best, above average or poor.
To be ranked as best or above average required an organisation to offer more than the legal minima. The Crown Prosecution Service was the best in the public sector as it grants maternity as well as paternity leave regardless of length of service and employees can even apply for a career break of up
to 5 years.
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