In the clatter of commentary from investors, NGOs, regulators, elected officials, activists, reporters, and the dozens of other groups judging corporate responsibility, it’s easy to forget the one stakeholder group right under your nose – employees.

That audience alone has the potential to have by far the greatest influence on your reputation as a corporate citizen. Every day they have access to your customers – either delivering or undermining the messages that you have so carefully constructed. They influence the opinions of their neighbors and family much more powerfully than the traditional communications channels we target with resources. They are the truth tellers about how closely your company is really embracing corporate values.

It doesn’t matter if you have five employees or 400,000. Every single one has the ability to publicly challenge your status as a good employer, a generous community contributor, an environmental steward, and a corruption-free company.

So how do you harness the energy and influence of employees to your advantage? How do you convert them into sustainability evangelists?

The essential elements are: culture, authenticity, credibility, and activation. Read the rest of this entry »

Longtime Center member Prudential Financial recently earned distinguished praise from an organization that honors “companies that represent the pinnacle in corporate citizenship.”

Commonly known as the Nobel Prize for public service, the Jefferson Awards‘ central tenet is that each and every citizen shares a responsibility to work toward the betterment of their communities through economic participation, public service, volunteerism, and other such efforts to improve life for all. In receiving the 2011 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Service by a Major Corporation, Prudential Financial is the first corporation to receive this award in the 39-year history of the program. Read the rest of this entry »

Boston Mayor Tom Menino recently joined the State Street Foundation and Boston teens to recognize 14 local foundations, corporations and individual donors for their commitment to funding youth employment. As members of the Youth Violence Prevention (YVP) Funder Learning Collaborative, the private funders donated $800,000 to provide 450 teens with meaningful jobs at local community organizations this summer and school year.

This success comes on the heels of the mayor’s jobs rally in May, as the city faced cuts to all federal funding — the equivalent of 1,600 jobs. Thanks to the efforts of Boston’s business community and local foundations, the city expects to have employed nearly 10,000 teens this summer. Read the rest of this entry »

“U.K. Business Secretary Vince Cable calls for a review of U.K. equity markets and executive pay as part of his drive to end the ‘quick buck’ focus on short-term profits in business and investments…”
– Dow Jones Newswire, June 22, 2011

“Chinese executive is sentenced in bribery case”
– Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2011‎

Unfortunately, headlines like these are becoming commonplace as ethical issues arise at every level of business. In the first quarter of 2011 alone, the Quarterly Corporate Fraud Index climbed 3.3 percent from the previous quarter in reported corporate fraud-related incidents. That was the highest level for the first three months of any year since the index compiled by The Network Inc. and BDO Consulting began in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »

As the public comment period approaches for the new generation of Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, or G4, the GRI is garnering increased attention from the investment world. Two recent stories – in the National Association of Corporate Directors Directorship magazine and the NYSE magazine – highlighted efforts by the GRI to promote corporate sustainability reporting.

The NYSE magazine reports on GRI Chief Executive Ernst Ligteringen’s speech before more than 200 sustainability professionals at the NYSE in January at the kickoff of GRI’s Focal Point USA, which aims to encourage more U.S. companies to get on board. And a story in the most recent issue of NACD Directorship magazine headlined “Investors Seek Focus on Non-financial Issues”, cites GRI efforts to expand reporting by U.S. companies as the number of shareholder resolutions on social and environmental issues grows. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum and fabricated aluminum, a metal valued for its light weight. But when it comes to a commitment to the environment, Alcoa and its employees are no lightweights.

For the ninth year, Alcoa Foundation is sponsoring Alcoa employees on Earthwatch Institute expeditions. This year they are traveling to Brazil and China where they will work alongside leading scientists to collect data that contributes to a global sustainable forestry research project. Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota leads seven Center for Corporate Citizenship members in a green parade to the top 10 of Interbrand’s list of the Best Global Green Brands 2011.

A report in the Miami Herald notes that Interbrand’s recognition of Toyota’s green efforts goes beyond the Prius, its best-selling hybrid, and extends to “the company’s partnership with Tesla, Toyota’s company-wide environmental initiatives and energy efficiency programs as well.”

Joining Toyota in a Center-member sweep of the top three spots are 3M in second place followed by Siemens. Read the rest of this entry »