Social Audits
What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) encompasses an organization’s commitment
to behave in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner, while
honoring the interests of direct stakeholders
The
mission of the socially responsible organization (SRO) is to influence the
process of developing, and advocating by example, socially responsible business
practices which benefit not only the SRO and its employees, but also the greater
community, the economy and the world environment. SROs seek to reshape the way
business is done in both the for-profit and not-for-profit arena.
While
what it is to be “socially responsible” is defined at many levels, there is
an evolving core of minimum standards for corporate social performance. These
standards represent an initial step in the full development of a socially
responsible organization. The minimum standards are intended to be specific,
documented, and measurable. They are also achievable and meaningful in terms of
impacts on communities, employees, the environment and economic systems.
These
standards are not about getting a “passing” or “failing” grade but are
assessment tools for the SRO’ s current level of commitment to CSR. The
standards assist in setting measurable and achievable targets for improvement
and form the objective foundation for reporting to all direct stakeholders both
the “talk” and actual “walk” of the SRO.
The
dimensions covered by the minimum standards incorporate the concepts of
community involvement, diversity, employee relations, environment, international
relationships, marketplace practices, fiscal responsibility, and accountability.
These factors have been defined in the following outline.
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