How Social Responsibility Shapes Corporate Strutcure
Many companies today take it upon themselves to institute policies of social responsibility beyond that is require by law. While some of these companies then use these policies as little more than a great advertising campain, others find that the employees make the company even better than they were before.
Corporate structure is shaped by social responsibility in several ways. First, it makes sure that the company creates and follows a business model that is not only legal, but ethical as well. This means that the company not only profits from it’s sales, but that it also treats employees fairly, pays fair wages, and has a positive impact on the customers, investors, and the environment.
While the standards of social responsibility vary, there is no doubt that one company stands out above all others as using social responsibility solely as a marketing tool. British Petroleum (BP) Gasoline had a corporate restructuring following the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico and created a huge advertising campaign based around the fact that even though it was their oil that spilled, they were doing everything they could to restore the area to it’s pre-spill conditions. Many people saw this as what it was, a ploy to use a horrific accident to their advantage.
On the other side of the coin though, there are a number of companies that are doing great deeds in the name of social responsibility. Starbucks Coffee has shown a consistent commitment to it’s workers, both in the Starbucks stores worldwide and in the coffee fields. They pay fair wages and make sure that their field workers are paid a fare wage for their coffee beans. They are a sustainable company and use recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible, and subtly advertise their commitment to their customers on their website and printed materials. Starbucks is a great example of a company that uses social responsibility for it’s intended use and one can only hope that other large corporations follow suit.
Filed in: Business news, Corporate Social Responsibility