Corporate social responsibility in modern business ethics and practices extends far beyond financial profitability. Corporate responsibility encompasses practices like wildlife conservation, supporting equality and diversity at work places, ethical labor policies, as well as charitable acts.
Character of any company should be judged based on its ethics and values, rather than just financial returns alone. Recent changes to Carroll’s CSR pyramid reflect this shift in expectations and demands.
Economic Responsibility
Companies who practice social responsibility can reap numerous competitive advantages. Establishing a Corporate Social Responsibility program may result in operational cost savings, improved employee morale, access to new markets and sales opportunities, as well as greater brand visibility.
Companies can leverage their financial responsibilities to support community initiatives. For instance, they could promote diversity by hiring more veterans or young people entering their careers; invest in renewable energy sources; establish green offices; or take steps to source ingredients, materials, products used in operations fairly while assuring at least minimum wages are paid out to workers.
Corporate social responsibility introduces a novel form of business ethics: one in which businesses act like citizens with obligations that come with citizenship. Although not widely accepted, this viewpoint is becoming more prominent; some companies even forming B corporations which legally require them to consider all stakeholders when conducting activities affecting all of them, not just shareholders.
Legal Responsibility
Businesses have an obligation to ensure the wellbeing of their communities by adhering to moral business standards and practices, including providing safe working environments free of sexual harassment or any type of discrimination, paying an appropriate wage and benefits, and offering equal treatment of employees.
An ethical responsibility of any company extends beyond reducing pollution and waste production; it should also promote recycling across supply chains, and refrain from purchasing materials produced using child labour if possible.
Companies that participate in corporate social responsibility programs may find themselves better received by customers and other stakeholders, leading them to achieve brand recognition through their efforts, potentially helping attract new customers and increase sales. Many programs align with the business purpose and needs of key stakeholders while others may simply create value in society.
Ethical Responsibility
Companies must consider the impacts of economic decisions they make on non-shareholders when making economic decisions, including employees through contractual compensation and consumers through purchase choices; society at large through taxation is another crucial element of business ethics. They should also avoid engaging in unethical practices such as using child labor for profit-maximization or providing lower wages than their competitors.
Some businesses go a step further and seek certification as B corporations, demonstrating they meet specific social and environmental responsibility standards. The purpose of such initiatives is to align philanthropy, environmental sustainability, ethics and values within business activities and values.
Small businesses can engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by contributing money, products and services to local community programs or charities. Larger organizations may have greater impacts due to their larger resource pools; nonetheless all businesses should strive to be responsible and help the environment around them – this will not only enhance their own reputations but also attract new customers.
Philanthropic Responsibility
Philanthropic activities undertaken by companies may help enhance their image and strengthen relationships with consumers. For instance, employees could volunteer their services by participating in community activities or by contributing money and materials for various local causes.
Companies seeking to fulfill their economic, legal and ethical responsibilities successfully will encounter tensions or trade-offs as they attempt to balance these responsibilities with shareholder expectations vs their desire for long-term competitive advantage.
Small businesses must tailor their CSR strategies to their own capabilities and capacities without jeopardizing economic viability, so academics have attempted to reframe Carroll’s four-part model so it fits a variety of contexts – for instance Laura Spence used feminist and ethic of care perspectives to adapt Carroll’s pyramid in order to enhance its relevance to small business. Ultimately, CSR should aim to foster community well-being via economic activity by contributing positively to its sustainability.