What Are The Major Areas Of Social Responsibility Of Business
Every business has a social responsibility to its customers, employees, and the community. This includes taking care of the environment, supporting charitable causes, and ensuring that workers are treated fairly.
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The social responsibility of business | Alex Edmans | TEDxLondonBusinessSchool
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Social Responsibility in the Workplace
There are a few key areas of social responsibility that all businesses should consider:
Employees
Employees are the lifeblood of any business. They are the ones who make it all run, and it’s important that businesses make sure they provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating work environment for them.
Businesses should provide employees with fair wages and benefits, and make sure the workplace is clean and organized. They should also make sure that their employees are kept up-to-date on industry trends and developments, and that they have opportunities for growth and progression.
Community
Businesses have a responsibility to their local community, too. They should support local businesses and charities, and donate money and resources to worthy causes. They should also participate in community events and initiatives, and make themselves available to their local community members.
Environment
Finally, businesses should be environmentally conscious. They should reduce their environmental impact, and work to find alternative methods of production that are more sustainable. They should also work to positively impact the local community, and promote green living and recycling habits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
In addition to abiding by all applicable laws and regulations, businesses should also be aware of their equal opportunity responsibilities. This includes providing an environment free of discrimination and harassment, and ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and equitably. Additionally, businesses should make a commitment to diversity and inclusion – embracing different cultures and perspectives in the workplace. This can help to foster a more collaborative and inclusive environment, and ensure that all employees have the opportunity to grow and develop.
Diversity in the Workplace
There are a few key areas in which businesses have a social responsibility to address when it comes to diversity:
- Representing the diversity of the population in which they operate.
- Supporting and promoting equal opportunity for all employees, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
- Educating employees about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Businesses that fail to properly represent their diverse populations can face lawsuits and lost customers. Furthermore, employees who are not given the opportunity to develop their skills and grow within their company are less likely to be successful in their career.
Businesses should also make an effort to promote equal opportunity for all employees, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. This can be done by creating an inclusive environment and providing training on how to be an effective and respectful member of the workplace. Finally, businesses should make it a priority to educate their employees about the importance of diversity and inclusion. This can be done through employee meetings, diversity training, and individualized feedback.
Workplace Harassment and Discrimination
There are a number of areas in which businesses have a social responsibility to their employees. One of the most important is workplace harassment and discrimination.
Many people believe that harassment and discrimination are two different things, but in reality, they are very similar. Harassment is a term that is typically used to describe unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances, sexual comments, and other types of offensive behavior. Discrimination is a term that is used to describe any action or attitude that treats someone differently because of their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.
Both harassment and discrimination can be extremely harmful to employees. They can make it difficult for employees to feel comfortable at work and can lead to mental and physical health problems. They can also lead to a decrease in productivity and an increase in employee turnover.
Businesses have a responsibility to take steps to prevent harassment and discrimination from happening. They should create policies that prohibit harassment and discrimination and make it clear to employees what is and is not allowed. They should also train employees on how to identify and avoid harassment and discrimination.
If harassment or discrimination does occur, businesses should take action. They should investigate the incident and take appropriate action, such as firing or disciplining the person responsible. businesses should also provide support to the victims of harassment or discrimination.
Health and Safety in the Workplace
There are a number of areas of social responsibility that businesses are traditionally responsible for, such as health and safety in the workplace. This is a particularly important area, as it can often be the cause of serious injuries or even death.
One of the main responsibilities of businesses is to ensure that their employees are safe. This means ensuring that they are properly equipped with the necessary safety gear, and that they are aware of the risks involved in their job. It also means ensuring that they are properly trained in how to use this gear, and that they are aware of the emergency procedures that should be followed in the event of an accident.
Another area of social responsibility that businesses have is to pay their employees fairly. This means ensuring that they are receiving a wage that is commensurate with the level of work that they are doing, and that they are not being exploited in any way. It also means ensuring that they are not being subjected to any forms of discrimination, either in the workplace or outside of it.
Finally, businesses have a responsibility to the communities in which they operate. This means ensuring that they are contributing to the local economy in a positive way, by generating jobs and income. It also means providing support for local initiatives, and investing in the community in other ways.
Drug
Businesses have a responsibility to society to avoid promoting drug use. This includes refusing to market drugs to minors, avoiding involvement in illegal drug trafficking, and not funding illegal drug research.
Businesses also have a responsibility to their employees to ensure that they are not using drugs at work. This includes providing a safe and healthy work environment, enforcing drug-free workplace policies, and providing training on how to prevent drug use.
Finally, businesses have a responsibility to their customers to warn them about the dangers of drug use. This includes posting information about drug prevention on company websites, issuing public health advisories about drugs, and providing information about drug testing options to employees.
Free Workplace
There are many different areas of social responsibility that businesses can take on. These can include things like contributing to charity, being environmentally friendly, or promoting human rights.
One of the most important things that businesses can do is to create a workplace that is free from discrimination. This means that all employees, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, are treated the same and are not discriminated against.
It is also important for businesses to promote positive social behaviours. This means that employees are responsible for behaving in a way that is respectful to other people, and is not damaging to the environment or to other businesses.
Finally, businesses should take measures to protect employees from harm. This can include things like providing a safe working environment, providing training in safety and security, and providing medical coverage in case of accidents.
Conclusion
When it comes to social responsibility, businesses have a lot of options on what they can and can’t do. However, there are a few main areas where businesses should focus their efforts. One area is addressing social issues, such as poverty and inequality. Another area is environmental responsibility, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And lastly, businesses should focus on workers’ rights, such as minimum wage and paid sick leave.
