Focus on the 'S': Making Your Social CSR Commitments Measurable

The Crucial 'Social' Aspect of CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) covers a company's commitment to social and environmental well-being. Historically, the environmental focus often received the most attention. However, contemporary CSR is heavily focused on the social impact, meaning how a company treats its people, its communities, and its supply chain.

This Social Pillar of CSR is no longer a soft, feel-good area. It is rapidly becoming the subject of new regulatory demands across the EU, requiring companies to transparently report on their treatment of employees and their efforts toward fairness. This area of Internal CSR is entirely reliant on your Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy.

The Social Pillar Checklist: Demonstrating Internal Fairness

The Social Pillar demands more than a basic employee handbook. Effective CSR and compliance require companies to provide evidence of fairness across several factors:

• Human Capital Management (Inclusion Score, Retention Rates of Diverse Talent)

• Diversity & Inclusion (Pay Gap Analysis, Representation at all Leadership Levels)

• Labour Relations & Safety (Worker Satisfaction Surveys, Fair Labor Audit Results)

The challenge for companies is transitioning from a general CSR commitment to providing concrete measurable social impact data. Companies must be proactive in proving they are managing their human capital effectively and fairly, especially as regulations requiring transparent disclosure on social factors increase.

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We integrate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) into adult education, non-profits, and SMEs to create equitable workplaces. Through the "EDI as a CSR: Navigating Future-Ready Workspaces with DDAL" project, we develop and share innovative practices.

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