Week 2 Project

HR and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Why has corporate social responsibility (CSR) become so prevalent?
• How does CSR regulate an organization?
• When should an organization use CSR to gain the competitive advantage?

Companies are beginning to realize the importance of CSR and the growing need to connect profitability of the organization to CSR. CSR encourages the leaders of the organizations to examine legal guidelines for compliance, employee welfare, the impact of business decisions on the environment, community, and ethical practices (externally and internally). The leaders and the HR professional must incorporate social responsibility into the culture.

In addition, the HR professional is responsible for enforcing the policies and procedures of the organization and maintaining ethical practices in the following areas: diversity, generational differences, disability, and other compliance issues. Even though there are many areas to consider, it is extremely important for the HR professional to develop a comprehensive diversity program. Diversity training is critical to the overall success of the organization. When employees feel threatened and unsupported or believe the work environment is hostile, this will have a direct effect on the employee’s performance, self-esteem, and morale. The HR professional and the leaders have the responsibility to develop a diversity plan that aligns with the mission of the organization in order for the organization to maintain a competitive advantage.