New Years’ Resolutions for Your Business!

As we sink into 2012, people will sign up to gym memberships they may not use, vow to eat 5-a-day for the rest of the year, write a list of DIY jobs to do around the house and potentially we are all thinking about ‘a better life’!

On the employment side this means that many people are out job hunting, not necessarily just to fill their wallets, but also to add meaning to their lives and add a sense of purpose. With this is mind, there is an opportunity for businesses to get in to the January mind-set of forward thinking, take a look at how their Company looks to those on the outside and review their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Some things to consider might be:

• What is your Company image?
• How does the local community view your office?
• What are your Environmental policies and practices?
• How do employees feel about their work place and the business ethics?
• Do you consider Corporate Social Responsibility when discussing strategy?

With this in mind, all organisations can look at their own business and make a few improvements or promises to improve in the course of 2012! These do not have to be large scale projects (but they can be) – be realistic with your plans or perhaps even give the task of setting some business resolutions to your employees.

New Years’ Resolution Ideas:

• Improve your ‘Green’ image
  • Improve on recycling efforts
  • Purchase goods ethically – recycled paper, fair trade tea/coffee
  • Be more energy efficient – turning equipment off when not in use, etc.
  • Reduce waste – replace disposable cups with plastic or glass tumblers/replace paper towels with hand dryers
  • Introduce a ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme
• Sponsor a local Charity or charitable event
  • Advertise on a local event or even get involved in helping to run one
  • Encourage staff to undertake a sponsored event
  • Organise fundraising activities for a charity as voted for by employees (this could be a new charity every year)
  • Introduce a ‘Volunteering Day’ for staff to undertake one day of voluntary work either paid or unpaid
• Work towards achieving Investors in People status (IIP)
  • Demonstrating your commitment to staff and attracting new talent
• Work towards achieving the Environmental Management standard (ISO 14001)
• Publicise your CSR activities
  • Improve your reputation and encourage customers/stakeholders to stay with you
  • Stand out from other organisations as an ethical brand
  • Be recognised as an organisation that people strive to work for

As always if you need any further information on this topic please contact us on 0844 630 9140 and we will be happy to provide support.