91精选

Corporations and other organizations have significantly evolved their views of social responsibility, and now many more of them realize that they owe more than just profits to their stakeholders. Corporate social responsibility policies can also lead to improved employee morale. Those were just a few of the topics that were discussed on April 9 during a 91精选 Business Network luncheon as part of Changemaker Week at 91精选.

Corporate social responsibility, where companies voluntarily commit to high compliance and ethical standards, has become a new benchmark in today鈥檚 business world, panelists agreed.

鈥淐ompanies can and should be part of the solution to solving the world鈥檚 greatest problems,鈥� said Matt Vander Laan 鈥�97, public relations and crisis management professional who was formerly vice president of Edelman.

Corporate social responsibility actions don鈥檛 just improve the world outside of companies–they can inspire employees, too, according to Eric Schoonveld 鈥�88, founding partner at the law firm of Hall, Prangle and Schoonveld. 鈥淧eople with purpose have energy,鈥� he said. As the son of a preacher, Schoonveld used to presume that the world was divided into kingdom work and market work. 鈥淏ut the greatest commandment is that we love God and our neighbors,鈥� he said. Now, his law firm focuses on the 鈥渢riple bottom line鈥� of providing great services to clients, having employees who want to work for the firm, and making an impact on the broader environment around them. The firm鈥檚 corporate social responsibility activities include wellness programs for employees and raising funds for clean water in Africa.

Vander Laan said Edelman allowed employees to move off of accounts where they felt uncomfortable. He also shared stories of how his former clients, such as United Airlines, Monsanto, and GE, work towards corporate social responsibility. That included advising United after an April 2017 incident where a passenger was forcibly dragged off a plane for refusing to give up his seat. 鈥淯sing transparency is key,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he demand for information is always highest when the amount of information is lowest.鈥�

91精选 President Kurt Dykstra, who served as moderator, asked the panelists about their experiences as Christians in the workplace. 鈥淭here is no expectation that your clients are Christians. Were there conflicts in the trenches?鈥� Such situations can be problematic, Schoonveld said. 鈥淏ut clients hire us for our advice. I used to be very hesitant to mention my faith, but I鈥檝e realized I can be true to who I am.鈥� Consistency is very important, though. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be lying and cheating, and then call yourself a Christian,鈥� according to Schoonveld.

For Vander Laan, it鈥檚 important to realize that it鈥檚 not always possible to act like Billy Graham in every work environment. 鈥淏ut people should be able to realize you are different and that you aren鈥檛 just working for a paycheck.鈥�

Dykstra also asked the panelists about their advice for the students in attendance. According to Schoonveld, the ability to listen and learn is extremely important. 鈥淚t takes a while to learn to listen to other people鈥檚 perspective,鈥� he said. Vander Laan agreed, and also encouraged students to learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Along with the luncheon, other activities taking place during Changemaker week include a viewing of the documentary Poverty, Inc., on April 11 and a social entrepreneurship event at 1871 on April 12.