Experts: Corporate Social Responsibility Cannot Fall by the Wayside, Especially During Crises
In recent years, we’ve seen companies become increasingly accountable for their actions – and inaction – regarding social issues. According to an Aflac study, 77% of consumers say they are now motivated to purchase from companies committed to making the world a better place, while 73% of investors state that efforts to improve the environment and society contribute to their investment decisions. In other words, companies can’t just say they’re committed to improving local communities or protecting the planet. They must follow through, as stakeholders are paying attention.
Yet, some companies claim that when a crisis strikes, it can be hard to uphold their corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments – and I understand their challenges.
Zebra is a responsible corporate citizen and has prioritized our CSR efforts in the face of recent global and regional crises.
For example, when the pandemic started, it may have been natural for many organizations to pull back on their volunteerism and philanthropic initiatives. Zebra did the opposite. We improved and globalized our offerings to empower more employees to get involved, even virtually. And with supply chain challenges, it would have been understandable if we would have scaled back the efforts of our Green Product Council or eliminated some of our environmental impact objectives – at least temporarily. Yet, we didn’t.
We charged forth, more focused than ever on upholding our commitments to our stakeholders, which includes our employees, partners, customers and shareholders. We even launched The Green Herd, a new employee network focused on sustainability! Building upon some of the incredible work seen across many different teams and regions, The Green Herd’s mission is to support Zebra’s environmental, social and philanthropy efforts; and provide individual growth and development opportunities through active participation in sustainability initiatives.
We don’t believe that CSR can fall by the wayside during times of crisis.
So, I’ve invited two guests to join me on the latest episode of the Your Edge Podcast to talk more about what they and their teams have been doing to sustain their CSR initiatives and how other organizations can learn from their experiences, even when crises introduce new challenges.
Why - and How - to Prioritize CSR in Times of Crises
Tune into my 25-minute conversation with CSR experts Shelley Eades and Michelle Grodzki now to learn:
The surprising impact the pandemic has had on companies’ CSR commitments, including our own
Why it’s important to harness the passion of your people when it seems difficult to sustain CSR activities
How to balance your long-term CSR commitments against the time-sensitive local calls-to-action being made in times of crisis
The importance of orienting your CSR initiatives and philanthropic contributions toward causes that raise the collective energy of employees, customers, partners and communities
Why it’s a misperception that B2B customers care less about a company’s CSR practices than consumers
Why companies are often held more accountable for their CSR actions – or inaction – in times of crisis
How crises ultimately serve as catalysts for CSR and why you shouldn’t wait until a crisis hits to have a plan of action in place
What advice Shelley and Michelle have for companies that feel they have no choice but to deprioritize CSR when there are market or company disruptors
LISTEN NOW
Interested in how Zebra Nation is giving back to communities, working to reduce our environmental impact and create a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Visit our CSR page or check out these recent CSR-related blog posts and podcast episodes.
Therese Van Ryne
Therese Van Ryne is Senior Director of External Communications for Zebra Technologies. She joined Zebra as part of the acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise business in October 2014. She and her team are laser focused on growing the company’s brand awareness globally aligned with business objectives. Her accomplishments include leading Zebra events with Harvard University and TED as well as the creation of the annual Intelligent Enterprise Index, resulting in positive media coverage, customer engagement and revenue growth.
Prior to Motorola Solutions, Van Ryne worked at SC Johnson where she led corporate communication strategies and drove PR and branding efforts for leading consumer products. One of her top achievements was leading the Windex® placement in the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” resulting in a 25% sales increase for the brand.
One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR and Crain's Chicago's 2021 Most Notable Executives in Marketing, Therese also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Van Ryne holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Marquette University and an Executive Leadership Master’s Certificate from Cornell University.
