Over the last decade we have seen increased interest in
corporate social responsibility. People are
aware and want to create a positive environment for the future. Can we have
corporate social responsibility without employee social responsibility (ESR),
Consumer social responsibility (CNSR), investor social responsibility (IVSR) and manager social responsibility (MSR)?
Or more generally, how can we have corporate social responsibility without
individual social responsibility (ISR)?
What is Individual social responsibility?
The individual social responsibility includes the engagement
of each person towards the community where he lives, which can be expressed as
an interest towards what’s happening in the community, as well as in the active
participation in the solving of some of the local problems. Under community we
understand the village, the small town or the residential complex in the big
city, where lives every one of us.
According to The Harris
Poll ®#57 , June 18, 2007[7], when it comes to individual
social responsibility, there are three types of people:
Two-thirds of U.S. adults have “Good Intentions” – they
believe that social responsibility is a good idea, and they do what they can in
terms of volunteering, but they do not sacrifice huge amounts of time or money.
At the top end of the spectrum, 8 percent of U.S. adults
“Practice What They Preach” and for this group, individual, as well as
corporate, social responsibility is extremely important.
One-quarter of U.S. adults, however, follow a philosophy of
“To Thine Own Self Be True” and, for this group, social responsibility has
little consequence in their lives.
In the wake of increasing globalization, we have become
increasingly conscious not only of what we buy, but also how the goods and
services we buy have been produced. Environmentally harmful production, child
labor, dangerous working environments and other inhumane conditions are
examples of issues being brought into the open. All companies and organizations
aiming at long-term profitability and credibility are starting to realize that
they must act in accordance with norms of right and wrong.”
All Social responsibility, both individual and
corporate, is voluntary; it is about going above and beyond what is called
for by the law (legal responsibility). It involves an idea that it is better to
be proactive toward a problem rather than reactive to a problem. Social
responsibility means eliminating corrupt, irresponsible or unethical behavior
that might bring harm to the community, its people, or the environment before
the behavior happens.
