Table of Contents
Introduction
Corporate responsibility should not be confined to the office walls. It should extend beyond. Organizations are slowly recognizing why sustainability, inclusivity, and governance are important both within the company and when employees are outside the workplace. This article will answer why we must embed these principles in our employees’ lifestyles and the impact they will have in general.
Sustainability Beyond The Workplace
Most organizations already embed sustainability in their organizational goals and objectives. In reality, it should also be a way of living. If employees practice sustainable behaviours during office hours but forget them once they clock out, the net effect is definitely not Net Zero. And it can’t be Net Positive either. In fact, your employees may cause more harm in their personal lives than the good they do at work.
Inconsistent sustainability practices can lead to a negative impact. Employees can recycle paper and reduce energy consumption at work. Still, if they do not practice these things at home, their overall environmental footprint remains significantly high.
Inclusivity Beyond the Workplace
In the same way, inclusivity should not be limited to organizational policies and practices. It should be about nurturing a culture of respect and acceptance beyond the office walls. Inclusivity should extend to our own communities and reflect how we treat others in our personal lives.
Imagine if your employees are champions of inclusivity in the workplace but not outside work. What will others say about your company when they discover they are working for you?
Suppose they practice inclusive behaviors outside the office. In that case, they promote harmony and cohesiveness within communities, which would align with the company’s broader social responsibility goals.
Governance and Ethical Behavior
The same goes for ethical conduct. You can’t just switch it on and off as your employees clock in and out of work. It should manifest in their own lives, and their behaviour outside of work should also reflect the company values.
If you ignore these governance principles outside of work, you undermine the integrity of your company’s ethical framework. Even simple actions like disregarding traffic laws and engaging in unethical practices in personal transactions will significantly impact your company’s reputation. Employees should be ambassadors of the company’s values inside and outside of work and everyday life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, integrating sustainability, inclusivity, and governance into the lifestyles of our employees is essential in creating a meaningful and lasting impact as an organization. The behaviors that are promoted in the workplace should go beyond our office walls. The moment we see these behaviors manifest in their personal lives, that’s when we can truly show our commitment to corporate responsibility and societal well-being.