A new report suggests the majority of Irish workers prefer an employer that regularly gives to charity, with corporate social responsibility (CSR) a major attraction.
Fifty-nine per cent of Irish workers said that employers getting involved in charity work is important to them, with 43pc saying if two identical job offers were on the table, the company with the better CSR would get the nod.
That’s according to Regus, which surveyed 40,000 people around the world. Globally, one-third of workers would like to be “directly involved” in their company’s charity work, with the same number wishing to be better informed on such practices.
Nearly one-quarter of Irish respondents think information about CSR initiatives is inadequate, with the same number wanting greater information on CSR initiatives. Almost half of Irish respondents think firms in their sector should be more involved in CSR and charitable giving (44pc).
Claiming that today’s workers are driven by much more than “an egotistical compulsion to get ahead”, Gearoid Collins, Regus country manager in Ireland, said a good social track record is becoming key.
Pride at the office
“Involvement in charitable activities projects an image of a positive and responsible organisation, but also helps workers feel proud of where they work,” he said.
“Businesses should grasp this willingness to contribute to society and ensure that their workers know about charity and CSR projects, and are offered the opportunity to get involved directly.
“Workers who are aware of their company’s philanthropic activities are more likely to feel fulfilled and motivated by their work. In addition, charitable initiatives create opportunities for management and employees to team up and work together.”
This is a topic that comes up more and more in the tech world at the moment, and that could be down to the fact there are too many jobs for too few people.
So, things like corporate attitudes have become important for the job candidate, who may have his or her pick of opportunities at any one time.
This also means some of the biggest, most profitable companies in the world are becoming more charitable.
Linda Davis, CEO of Next Generation, recently told us about the huge amount of information available to candidates when browsing job offers now, as a result, getting them to “engage” with companies is proving harder than before.
Value system
“Key to that engagement is the company’s employee propositions and the vision for the company, what the company can offer the candidate regarding their career development and does the candidate align with the company’s value system (CSR programmes etc),” she said.
For workers finding it difficult to find companies that best match their wants, there are tricks to the trade. Hays Ireland’s Jennifer Dillon recently spoke of the simple things candidates should research ahead of signing on the dotted line.
Looking beyond the perks and interview the interviewer, monitor reviews and ask yourself serious questions.
“What motivates you? What make you happy or unhappy? What work-life balance do you seek?” she asked.
Add to that the question of CSR and charity, judging from the Regus report, and you’re probably ever closer to deciding.
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