Can HR Leaders Successfully Drive Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives?

Dear all,

Please assist me with providing inputs on Corporate Social Responsibility as I am planning to take this initiative. At the same time, I would like to ask if an HR lead can spearhead the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Thank you,
K.K. Pandey
Executive - HR

Hello sir,

Would you kindly explain the meaning of "Corporate Social Responsibility" or maybe "Corporate social responsibility"? 😉 Just a bit of observation.

Well, though I'm not a wizard on this subject of CSR, from what I know and understand, yes, an HR manager can lead this concept. All it needs is participation from all the departments or project heads of an organization, and I don't think you can find a better person than the HR manager to effectively apply the goals of CSR to any organization because they are always working under conditions of finding what's in the best interest of co-workers and can easily do it for society.

I love the concept of CSR in all types of organizations. Maybe I could help with some innovative ideas if you would specify which type of organizations you're in and in what areas you would like to implement this wonderful thing.

Pratik...oops...Pratik 😉

Hi there!

HR can definitely give inputs on Social Responsibility efforts. However, it is a MUST that such efforts are driven by the leadership. In case you are looking at selling the idea of CSR to your leadership, kindly use the 'triple bottomline' approach. You can also refer to the efforts by CII on this.

Also, before you approach this issue, maybe you would like to think in terms of:
1. What efforts would you like to invest your resources in?
2. Who would fund, manage, and audit these activities?
3. How would these activities impact your internal human capital?

I am in the process of completing an article on Sustainability Reporting. My firm has contributed to the policy/process/communication/audit design for one of the biggest Indian organizations.

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,
Anubhuti

Hi,

I have a doubt. Is CSR the same as SA8000? Can someone explain the difference? All I know is that SA8000 stands for Social Accountability 8000. It is a prerequisite for most garment export companies exporting to Europe to obtain certification for it.

With regards,
vijayabooma

Hi KK,

I can help you in CSR, but what exactly are you looking for? I have the whole CSR material, which includes the CSR activities taken by corporations like Tata, Titan, and many more. Let me know if I can assist you.

Thanks,
Kalpana K Hinduja
kalpana_hinduja@yahoo.co.in

Social Accountability 8000 (SA8000) has been developed by Social Accountability International (SAI), known until recently as the Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency.

SAI is a non-profit affiliate of the Council on Economic Priorities (CEP).

SA8000 is promoted as a voluntary, universal standard for companies interested in auditing and certifying labor practices in their facilities and those of their suppliers and vendors. It is designed for independent third-party certification.

SA8000 is based on the principles of international human rights norms as described in International Labour Organization conventions, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It measures the performance of companies in eight key areas: child labor, forced labor, health and safety, free association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, and compensation. SA8000 also provides for a social accountability management system to demonstrate ongoing conformance with the standard.

Source: http://mallenbaker.net <link updated to site home>

It is rather a tool of measurement/international standard for social accountability, through this an organization achieves the benchmark of corporate social responsibility.

Hope I could help to draw a line of demarcation between CSR and SA-8000.

Regards,
Padmaja :D

You can also check this link:

www.ifpeople.net/resources/ downloads/tools/sa8000-en.pdf

Dear all,

Thank you for providing this important input. I would like to request Kalpana to kindly provide me with the materials as they can help in understanding the concept. Since my background is in social work, this would be very beneficial for me.

My email address is [Login to view].

Thanks,
Krishna Kumar Pandey
Executive - HR

Hi Kalpana,

I have just seen your message. I am in search of CSR activities carried out in Indian companies so that I can gain some knowledge about it and try to implement it in the company I am working for. Can you please send me the CSR details of companies like TATA, etc.?

Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks and take care,

Sankar
HR Executive