by Mary Ann Mcgivern

Created on: November 13, 2009

Social responsibility means organizations as well as people are responsible for the common good. There are simple cheap ways to take responsibility and there are more complex investments to benefit society. The suggestions below are in no particular order.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Any organization can adopt this mantra.
1. Reduce the amount of material used. Invest wisely in goods. For example, reduce paper use by using both sides. Reduce energy costs by turning off the lights. Reduce plastic use by using cloth bags for shopping and china cups for coffee.

2. Reuse material as much as possible instead of buying more. Reuse printer cartridges. Reuse plastic cups and plates and plastic bags.
3. Recycle aluminum, paper, cardboard boxes, televisions and other electronics.

PAY EMPLOYEES A LIVING WAGE
A living wage starts at about $14 an hour these days, plus health care and vacation. Anyone who works full time should earn enough money to support their family and pay their share of taxes to support schools, police and the fire department. Nobody who works full time should have to apply for food stamps or Medicaid.

CONDUCT TRANSPARENT OPERATIONS
The community benefits from knowing how school principals, corporate CEOs, non-profit executive directors and board members are recruited. Make the financial report easy to find. The mission statement and goals should be published on the web site and posted in the lobby. The benefit is that when the community understands the organization, it can more readily participate in the work of the organization. And if resources are not being well used, the responsible thing is to admit it and ask for help.

CONSERVE RESOURCES
Set the thermostat a little higher in summer, a little lower in winter. Plan to invest in thermal glass, solar panels, windmills and passive solar water heating. Make a rooftop garden to collect rain water and control building temperature.

ENCOURAGE SHARING
Post and support ride shares, automobile shares, bike shares. Make space available for community meetings. Sponsor a community garden. Plan ahead to give leftover meeting and banquet food to a homeless shelter. Make it possible for employees to spend some work time volunteering for a cause.

COMMIT TO EXCELLENCE
Society does not need any more junk on the market. If an organization produces cookies or tea towels or welded auto fittings, they should be the best money can buy. If the mission is to educate, staff should be well prepared. If the mission is to feed the hungry, staff and volunteers must prepare themselves to leave any of their own problems behind and commit to compassionate service. Society needs incompetence even less than junk.

Learn more about this author, Mary Ann Mcgivern.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.