For many of us, there is a profound gap between the things we enjoy doing and the things we spend time doing. Few people, if asked, can honestly say that they can devote a significant amount of time to their passion or to making the world a better place. It isn’t that they are lazy or not driven, simply that the demands of today’s world don’t always leave time for these more noble pursuits.
When it comes down to it, most of our time awake is spent at work. Though some people can say that they’ve found a career path that allows them to follow a passion or do their part to make the world a better place, many cannot. This is something that younger generations are striving to change.
Some studies indicate that both Millennials and the younger, Gen Z place an exorbitantly high value on making a positive difference in the world. For employers, this means thinking differently not only about what products are carried and how supply chains are managed, but also considering values that new employees might have and how that will impact hiring. The demand for corporate responsibility is actively changing the future of work.
Value in Making a Difference
A great deal of psychology goes into how people think about their jobs. The daily grind with no opportunity for improvement or a supervisor that micromanages can make even the best job seem stale and unbearable. Likewise, things like employees feeling as though they are making a small positive difference in the world can make all the negative things seem small and boost employee productivity.
Multiple studies have shown that younger generations consider corporate responsibility a foundational element to workplace satisfaction. Many cringe at the idea of working for a company that doesn’t align with their values. Broadly, these values include things such as addressing the climate crisis, providing livable wages and benefits, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Some have been completely willing to pass up high-paying jobs at various corporations in favor of smaller businesses and non-profits that align more closely with these values. For many, it isn’t about making money hand over fist so much as making the world a better place for everyone. After all, if most of your time is going to be spent at work, work should be about something you’re passionate about.
Shaking Up Business as Usual
Of course, this has meant some serious changes for many companies that are hoping to attract young talent. Businesses have realized that ‘profit with purpose’ is no longer just a trend. Rather, it is quickly becoming an essential strategy for the future of business success.
Nearly 9 in 10 business leaders believe that both employees and customers will hold them responsible for failures to make positive changes towards greater corporate responsibility. In all reality, they are probably right, more people than ever before list corporate responsibility as a factor in their shopping decisions. This has led some big corporate leaders to make pledges towards doing just that; just about every big brand name has started publicly working towards this goal.
These pledges can be all sorts of things that ultimately have the potential to lead to the public perception of greater corporate responsibility. Many companies make sustainability pledges such as companies that are committing to be carbon neutral by a certain date. Others are striving to become more socially responsible such as those that cap CEO salaries at a certain percentage above the average worker.
Walking the Talk
Though many of these pledges meet their goals of satisfying both potential employees and customers, there is also a need to walk the walk that matches the talk. The first step for many employers is to follow through with promises made to new hires. This goes all the way from welcoming a new employee on their first day to outlining how their work helps the company reach its goals and future direction.
One way that many companies are acting upon the pledges they are making is through the greater incorporation of technology. It may seem somewhat counterintuitive, but technology can create a lot of opportunities for companies to be more responsible. For example, tech can help lower their carbon footprint to improve the environment or increase employee inclusivity and diversity.
An example of this would be using technology to allow for remote work opportunities. Employees that work from home don’t have to drive into the office which can greatly reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Likewise, it can create an opportunity to branch out to a greater number of potential employees and improve diversity, such as by opening jobs to people in different time zones because they don’t have to arrive at one specific workplace in person.
Younger generations are demanding changes in how companies behave. They expect more corporate responsibility and many businesses are responding by making pledges to create a better workplace and world to live in. Making it happen isn’t always as easy as saying things will be done, but there are numerous possibilities in the works and we have much to look forward to.
