One doesn’t have to look back far to see the worst of the ‘profit above all’ motive of an individual or business. Child labor, slavery, deadly working conditions – the people have endured this and more. In some parts of the world they still do.
But things do change. We can watch that change, and be a part of it. With the emergence of the B-Corporation and Social Enterprise we are seeing business embrace a greater motive, realizing that dollars are not the only measure of profit.
It’s likely there are several reasons for this change, with one being the integrity of today’s business owners and upper management. The article posted below points to a second reason: Employees want to work for a company that is socially responsible. Valuable talent will choose to work for a business that respects its employees, its community and the environment.
This is what a B-Corporation strives to be – good For the world. We have seen that in being good for the world, a business can profit financially as well. It is inspiring to read the article below, and see CEOs encouraged to take the lead in social responsibility.
***
Employees want CEOs to fight for change in the world: survey
The era of the guarded CEO that is afraid to take public stands on hot-button social issues may be nearing an end. Or at least it should if said CEO wants to keep top talent that is engaged with an litany of new social issues like never before.
More than 75% of employees say they want CEOs to take the lead on change instead of waiting for government to impose it, according to new data in the 19th annual Edelman Trust Barometer. About 73% believe a company can take actions that both increase profits and improve economic and social conditions in the community where it does business.
Public relations firm Edelman, which supplies the data, surveyed 33,000 people spanning 27 markets around the world.
“CEOs have to speak up and talk on behalf of society and can’t wait for government,” Edelman CEO Richard Edelman tells Yahoo Finance. Edelman thinks being a more outwardly vocal CEO on key social issues is part of being a “next generation” CEO.