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Social responsibility is a hot button issue these days. Everybody is talking about it, many are passionate about it, and every company would have you believe that they’re on board
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Comments
10.14.08
haha, great post. I'll definitely be watching the ALCS (and cheering hard for the Red Sox) but my lights will be probably be on. I will, however, make sure my lights are off every time I leave my house and try to conserve as much as possible, but not because "major corporation" told me to.
10.14.08
Andrew - Great post!
Too many companies use social responsibility as an avenue for advertising, not truly for the benefit of others.
At Leviton, social responsibility is ingrained in our culture. We are consistently getting involved in 5K runs/walks to support non-profit organizations, donating money and items to people affected by natural disasters (internally & externally), and doing our civic duty because we actually care.
Over the summer, I had the pleasure of spending two days prepping and painting a school in Amityville, Long Island that had lost it’s funding and was in dire need of repairs. When we went to ask our President & CEO if we could volunteer, there were no questions asked...he immediately said yes and offered to buy the supplies as well as come paint with us.
My company does design products that are energy efficient and yes we profit from selling them, but we also benefit because it helps the environment. We use occupancy sensors at work and at home I have my lights on timers & make sure to turn them off when I'm not around or watching a movie.
Sorry Ryan - Can't condone rooting for the Red Sox b/c I live in NY...Yankees fan!
10.14.08
Just remember this: people care about things. Corporations do not. And leadership of corporations have a duty to their shareholdes to maximize profit whatever the cost (to you, and/or your ideals). If a corporation chooses to do something good and it is clearly not the way to profit maximize, the shareholders have options and the CEO is clearly trying to lose his/her job.
I too root for the Red Sox, and am a huge baseball fan. I cringe a little inside when I am at the stadium and I hear sponsors make ultimately self-serving comments about the "good for you" nature of their products. Or the programs. Corporations exist solely to make money. Not for any good warm-fuzzy-feeling endeavor. Otherwise, they would be not-for-profit corporations ;)
10.14.08
Hi Beth - I completely agree. Corporations do care about their bottom line. So by putting money into an effort to attract people that "care about things" and not fully committing to show that the corporation cares just as much, they risk alienating the very consumers that they're targeting with their message. Conversely, if they decide socially conscious consumers are important to their business, they should dive right in and truly be socially conscious as a company. People who care about things can care about a company and support them with their dollars - if the company gives them cause to do so.
My example here is just to show that going half way doesn't make you socially conscious or profitable.
10.14.08
Dina - its great to hear when a company not only talks a good game, but actually practices what they preach. We try our best over here at Brazen to do the same. BUT I cannot condone rooting for the Yankees :) Go Sox!!
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