Yesterday’s Advisor presented three things to keep in mind to flex your company’s green muscle when it comes to landing top performers who take pride in your environmentally aware efforts. Today we offer three more strategies.
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Spread Your Eco-Friendly News
Seek out kudos. Link sustainability to your firm’s prestige by seeking recognition and awards from reputable third-party organizations. A few examples:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership recognizes and incentivizes corporate leadership actions in response to climate change with an annual awards program.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation annually recognizes “Best Environmental Stewardship,” for a single strategic initiative focused on the environment—including energy and water use, circular economy, food security, sustainable procurement/supply chain, packaging and recycling, fleet and transportation, or conservation.
- And thousands of employers nationwide now participate in and get listed on “Best Workplaces for Commuters”—a program that recognizes companies that have quality commuter benefits that help reduce transportation-related carbon emissions and improve air quality.
These programs—and many others—are becoming a mark of excellence in environmental leadership among businesses.
Shout it out. Publicize environmentally aware practices in your mission statement, corporate responsibility commitments, hiring materials, employee handbooks, and annual reports. Your efforts must be featured prominently on your careers site and social media posts as well. Simple, but effective examples: If your firm buys green— purchasing sustainable products and setting goals for buying recycled, refurbished, or used—let recruits and employees know about your policy. Reuse packaging for shipping, rather than throwing out? Tell them. Allow cloud-based videoconferencing to curb business travel? Make a point of it. Offer organic foods, snacks, or coupons? Promote that fact.
Take it home. More employees filter personal lifestyle, product purchasing decisions, and job satisfaction choices with the green mind set. So, extend the green efforts where employees live. Caesars, for example, has given out $100,000 in rewards to employees for going green at home since 2010. Then, demonstrate that employee pride through testimonials showing how you celebrate their sustainability achievements.
Bottom line: A company’s sound environmental policies are clearly a prime source of competitive advantage. And by drawing more applicants through high-quality sustainable practices, organizations dramatically increase their chances of hiring— and keeping—top performers.