There are range of ways in which business may engage with local communities. Improving local environments by sponsoring environmental projects or by providing opportunities for employees to engage in environmental voluntary work. Business also undertake educational initiatives, providing educational materials for schools, organising school visits to business or even providing expert input to the teaching of relevant subjects. This can also be done by promoting employment opportunities for disadvantaged and wider community.
Many businesses start looking at a structured guidance when it comes to business in community and social responsibility. ISO 26000 provides methods to guide those, who recognise that respect for society ind the environment is a critical success factor.
A sustainable world is about what we do about human rights, the environment and ethical behaviour.
ISO 26000 helps to embrace ideas into effective actions. The guide helps to implement and integrate social responsible behaviour throughout the organisation and through its policies and practices within its sphere of influence. It is intended to assists organisations in contributing to sustainable development. It encourages to go beyond the legal compliance and promotes a common understanding in the field of social responsibility.
Business needs to take into consideration social, environmental, legal, cultural, political, economical and organisational factors while being consistent with international norms of behaviour.
ISO 26000 is not intended for certification purposes, regulatory or contractual use, but it is intended to provide organisations with guidance concerning social responsibility and can be used as part of public policy activities.
The standard categorises various aspects of responsibility.
The social responsibility of an organisation is defined as the responsibility of the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment through transparent and ethical behaviour. Its aim is to contribute to sustainable development, health and welfare of society, takes into account the expectations of stakeholders, complies with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behaviour.
ISO26000 breaks social responsibility down into a set of core subjects:
1) Human Rights
2) Labour practices
3) Environment
4) Fair operating practices
6) Consumer issues
7) Involvement and development of community
It looks at the relationship of the organisation to social responsibility. It allows businesses to understand their social responsibility and encourage voluntary initiatives. By implementing the standard businesses can enhance the credibility regarding social responsibility, communicate the message to its stakeholders and improve organisational practices related to social responsibility.
Governance mechanisms allow organisations to make their decisions and implement actions to achieve their objectives. The mechanisms should be integrated in every step of organisational process through accountability, transparency and ethical behaviour.
Human Rights
There are two main categories of human rights - political and civil, and social and cultural. Organisations should not engage in the compression of human rights, nor should they be involved in acts of discrimination against certain social and cultural groups.
Labour practices
This parts covers employment relationships, conditions of work, health and safety, employee development and training.
Environment
This part covers responsible use of resources, climate change mitigation, protection of the environment and restoration of natural resources.
Fair operating practices
The organisation should conduct itself ethically, both with external entities such as governments and communities. Matters of corruption, fair competition and respect of property rights are considered.
Consumer Issues
This part encourages organisations to act responsibly in relation to consumers. For example marketing information should be true and not misleading, contracts should be fair. Organisations should also promote sustainable consumption through education and raising awareness related to its products.
Development and involvement of the community
Organisations should be engaged in the community and help to develop it. This involves education and culture and investment in community infrastructure.
ISO 26000 provides a set of logical practices and evaluation activities which are needed to integrate social responsibility into the culture and behaviour of the organisation.
By using the standard approach to corporate social responsibility, business can improve their impact on communities and increase their competitiveness. The program puts high hopes and expectations on organisations to preserve the natural, social and economic resources to create better environments for us and the future generations.
As a voluntary guidance, ISO 26000 can be used by any organisation. It can be used by business leaders to plan and implement actions to improve their sustainability.
For many successful business people, being socially responsible is the part of who they are and why they are in business.
As a Leaders want to provide useful products and services, provide employment, create jobs and give society opportunities to develop and grow. More over, to gain satisfaction through the work they do.
Unfortunately in many organisations we still lack the spirit and inspiration for being responsible. Often it is due to the lack of understanding and knowledge to realise how important these actions are.
I hope this short article gives you some insights and motivation for interest in the standard. In my next articles I will be talking about best practice and steps businesses can take to implement ISO 26000 into their daily activities and drive sustainable development and change.
Bibliography:
Ecologia, May 2011, Handbook for implementers of ISO 26000, Global Guidance Standard on social reposnsilility, pp. 3
ISO, 2021, ISO 26000 Social responsibility, accessed from https://www.iso.org/iso-26000-social-responsibility.html 25/07/2021
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