Should businesses be expected to have a social corporate responsibility?

completedit · 02-12-2020 1:43am #1

To what end are we willing to put up with businesses greenwashing/rainbow washing or whatever form of other washing they engage in. You see companies like Pepsi talk about their CSR and their environment goals but by God they scale back their productive and expected profits.
Then you have companies like Patagonia turning over billions and taking a moral high ground running anti-consumerist campaigns.

Do you welcome this development that businesses must act more responsibly? Is it better for society? Do you think it is a precursor to a less winner takes all dog eat dog society that might be reflective of free market capitalism?

JustAThought · 02-12-2020 1:52am

I’ve gawped at companies promoting their CSR have given examples like promoting not just taking a photo of a child for advertising in a third world country but showing it them as being part of their CSR policy.

Or major multinationals promoting getting rheir staff to give unpaid time after work hours to the comapnys chosen charity as part of their CSR efforts.

Or government agencies getting polluters to pick up after 10% of their own plastic (illegal) pollution and calling it CSR.

The mind boggles really - sure ever little helps but some efforts are so pitiful and self serving that you wonder if that is the attitude of the heads who are in power how disinterested or money whoring must they be to think we will be clapping them for their minimalism.

marcbrophy · 02-12-2020 1:54am

Businesses will always pivot to mirror public expectation of their actions.
If one business gets praise for turning it's logo into a rainbow, then everyone will do it.
If one business got praise for kicking a mangy dog out of it's lobby, then all CEO's would be kicking dogs in next week's newsletter.
It's all about perception and it's all a load of bollix!

completedit · 02-12-2020 1:58am

I think am gonna start taking pics of all companies who go out of their way to latch onto the green trend.i saw one blatant one in a new coffee shop in Bray. Extremely cringe worthy.

grassylawn · 02-12-2020 2:05am

No. Businesses exist to make money. The social responsibility part should come from regulations imposed on them.

Free market capitalism is a bad thing. Because businesses exist to make money. There is no responsibility outside of making money in this scenario.

Strongly regulated capitalism is probably a good thing.

It is like the difference between a wildfire and an engine.

Stovepipe · 02-12-2020 2:39am

True dat.Give them a chance and they'll take it. It's all about cynicism. Expect the worst and they will deliver in spades, under a sheen of Green or BLM or whatever is the next "good" thing.It's all about the mighty dollar and nothing else matters and anyone who thinks different is a fool. Like all those bank ads where they're "backing brave" or some other such nonsense. It's all cobblers;banks are cynical highwaymen and their sole function is to seperate you from your money as soon as possible. The Tracker Mortgage scandal is a clear example of that; take your money with a few keypad strokes yet take years to give it back to you.

02-12-2020 2:53am

This thread aligns with my corporate values, we should dynamically utilize client-centered experiences and globally extend high standards in content by synergistically maximizing quality models. Concurrently adopting wholescale assimilation of American spelling and obfuscating meaningful vernacular.

02-12-2020 3:08am

Corporate social responsibility is the dictionary definition of an oxymoron.

KarlMarks · 02-12-2020 3:45am

Companies should exist for the betterment of the environment, employees and society. The pursuit of profit has destroyed our families, our environment and our future. The icecaps are melting, everyone is on antidepressants and no one can be sure of a place to live. Capitalism is a failure

cournioni · 02-12-2020 3:55am

CSR is usually lies that gob****es buy hook like and sinker. The most recent one is the “going green / carbon neutral” type nonsense.

ILoveYourVibes · 02-12-2020 5:01am

grassylawn wrote: »

It is like the difference between a wildfire and an engine.

I like to think of it as the burning bush on mount horeb vrs a self consuming fire.

To be burnt by your own passion either politically or monetarily is ultimately to be a failure.

Coke Cola aims to give just 1% of its profits to charity.

This .....well ...they could have done better.

Should businesses be expected to have SR ....

I will put this a different way. They are not evil unfeeling robots. Companies are made of people. It is in their NATURE to want to care about others. Whether they like this or not.

The toughest suit at the table is a big softie. Or a very unhappy man.

The expectation is within themselves. Why? Because they too are a part of society.

They know what they should be doing. They are probably also aware of their own short comings.

Are they are little embarrassed about their own short comings? Yes. Of course. Aren't we all?

Should businesses be expected to have a social corporate responsibility?

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