“Companies with a conscience”
Do you have a social conscience when it comes to the work you do? Let’s find out. Answer yes or no to the following questions.
Does it matter to you if the company you work for:
Conducts experiments on animals?
Derives substantive revenues from making alcoholic or tobacco products?
Has women or minorities on its board or among its senior management?
Is among the top producers of ozone-depleting chemicals?
Supports the community in which it’s located through charities?
Uses recycled materials to manufacture its products?
If you said yes to any of the above, you are most likely someone with a social conscience. You are also a part of a growing trend in job seekers.
This new breed of worker, which includes people in all age groups, are less concerned with security and care more about personal enrichment, balance and contributing to society in a more intrinsic way. As a result, they’re on the hunt for companies who also care about more than just the bottom line.
These firms are what are being called “socially responsible companies.”
They are socially responsible, not necessarily to be politically correct, but because one of their priorities is to impact society on these larger issues. Being socially responsible also has its affect on the bottom line. “Research shows that these types of companies have higher employee loyalty and commitment, attract and retain the best employees, reduce waste and have fewer accidents and have lower employee turnover with higher job satisfaction,” says Katherine Jankowski, author of The Job Seekers Guide to Socially Responsible Companies (Visible Ink.)
To these companies “the idea of having an ethical ‘bottom line’ and an accounting ‘bottom line’ are not mutually exclusive…Having both adds value to the company’s ability to conduct business and be profitable.”
How do you find these companies that are doing well by doing good? Jankowski’s book profiles about 1,000 public and private companies and their records on environment, employee training programs, diversity programs, safety and quality, profit sharing, tuition assistance, military contracts, women and minority advancement, work and family friendly policies and much more. The book also gives essential background information such as corporate officers, revenues and mission.
What I like best about this book is that it helps you identify companies that match your values and lifestyle. If there’s one thing people tend to gripe most about when it comes to their jobs, it’s issues about the company’s values.
