Tips on Developing CSR Policies that Work
Rose-Marie Almond, Cobourg, Ontario, CYBF Young Entrepreneur & Mentor
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices can be seen as vague and inconsistent, and this is because many (but not all) of them are. Important things to consider when putting your CSR policy together include:
Do:
- Make sure the policy sits at the core of your business objectives, and is not just there to keep up appearances. A good policy should actively create a better internal business environment and corporate culture before looking external to the business.
- Make sure the policy is right for your business. There is no ‘one fits all’ CSR policy.
- Make sure everyone in the organization is on board. All your stakeholders must understand how the policy will help the business operate better and how it will affect them.
Don’t:
- Use it purely as a marketing ploy. No matter how well you dress it up, consumers will see through it if its only paper thin; and you’ll end up losing their trust instead of gaining it.
- Have a CSR policy at all unless it’s something that you fully believe in and support.
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