Corporate Citizenship Action Not Yet Keeping Pace with Attitudes Among U.S. Business Leaders
2007 survey details gap between rhetoric and reality; download the
report and discuss at www.corporatecitizen07.com
BOSTON--(Business Wire)--Positive attitudes about corporate citizenship among U.S. business
leaders are not yet matched by positive actions. That is the most
striking finding of the third biennial "State of Corporate Citizenship
in the U.S" research. The survey, unique in including views from
companies of all sizes, is a project of the Boston College Center for
Corporate Citizenship and The Hitachi Foundation.
"The gap between what companies say they value and what they
actually do is the most important finding," said Bradley K. Googins,
Ph.D., Executive Director, Boston College Center for Corporate
Citizenship. "Given the challenges we face, that's an unacceptable
status quo. We need to start understanding why this gap exists and to
help business leaders make the translation from rhetoric to actions
that benefit both their businesses and society."
Some 60% of surveyed executives say corporate citizenship is part
of their business strategy to a large or very great extent. But just
39% report it is part of their business planning process, and only 25%
have an individual or team responsible for citizenship issues.
Seventy-six percent of executives say corporate citizenship fits their
companies' traditions and values. Yet only 36% report talking to their
employees about corporate citizenship. Most business leaders (81%)
note the importance of valuing employees and treating them well. Yet
less than half (46%) support work-life balance for all employees
including hourly workers and just about a third (31%) offer training
and career opportunities for their own lower-wage employees.
"Even when action could address a pressing business need, such as
developing and tapping a skilled workforce, reality trails behind
rhetoric," said Barbara Dyer, President and CEO of The Hitachi
Foundation. "While 41% felt that companies should be held responsible
for improving the education and skills in the communities where they
operate, only 18% of business are offering job training to people in
economically distressed communities."
Business leaders' attitudes toward corporate citizenship, while
positive overall, lagged behind public attitudes. Comparing the
results of this survey of business leaders to other surveys of public
expectations reveals that the general public expects significantly
more from business than do business leaders themselves on issues like
the environment, human rights, education, workforce development, and
poverty elimination. "These are big societal challenges," notes Dr.
Googins. "They cannot be tackled solely by business. "But we also know
they cannot be resolved without businesses - often working with public
and nonprofit partners."
The full survey covers many other issues involving the drivers,
benefits, and management of corporate citizenship and its impact on
stakeholders. Of the 751 executives participating in the on-line
survey, 53% were CEOs, 34% held vice president positions, 10% were
directors and 3% held other senior level positions. The survey was
conducted by GlobeScan, a professional polling firm based in Toronto,
Canada. The full survey report can be found at Center for Corporate
Citizenship (free registration and login required) and
www.hitachifoundation.org. To comment on the results go to our blog at
www.corporatecitizen07.com.
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
Peggy Connolly, 617-552-0722
peggy.connolly.1@bc.edu
or
Rosenberg Communications
Jeff Rosenberg, 301-976-0646
jeffr@rosenbergcommunications.com
Copyright Business Wire 2007
