Corporate Social Responsibility And Its Legal Requirements

Businesses, specifically larger corporations, play a major role in what occurs in society therefore, they are responsible to their stakeholders not only to pursue economic goals but the greater social good as well. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means that a corporation should act in a way that enhances society and its inhabitants and be held accountable for any of its actions that affect people, their communities, and their environment. (Lawrence, 2010). Social responsibility is becoming the norm so much so that some businesses have incorporated it into their business model. There are three components of the bottom line of social

Based on my interpretation of CSR, I see it as a voluntary obligation that companies have promised to their stakeholders to fulfill by improving, or at least not harm, the environmental and social wellbeing. When companies engage in CSR, they voluntarily promise to, for example, carry the responsibility to protect the environment and take actions against bribe or other corruptive activities related to their business. It certainly has some positive influences to specific areas based on my knowledge gained from other classes; nevertheless, when judge CSR in the context of total impacts on our society and environment, it is obvious that CSR has failed its mission to lessen the negative impacts of business based on the evidences that provided by the author. Also, since there is a strong positive relationship between CSR behaviors and consumers’ reactions to a firm’s products and services, it seems to me, now, that CSR for the most companies is just a fancy cover that helps them to create or promote a good image and reputation. The recent case that shows the failure of CSR of Volkswagen even make me believe that CSR programs may be just a marketing or public relation exercise for many

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that affects all companies and should be an active factor in the company’s decision making. It is something all corporations need to care about. CSR is when business’ or corporations take part in an initiative or campaign for a cause that will benefit society and/or in some way make the world a better place (Taylor, 2015). Initially, Corporate Social Responsibility started to take shape around the 1950’s, but some say that it dates all the way back to the 1800s, the idea of CSR was seen (Carroll, 2007). One may think that because it is dated so long ago, it doesn’t have an important impact today nevertheless, it is proven that Corporate Social Responsibility is a pathway for entities to self benefit as they are in the process of benefitting society.

In business world companies are interested in how to maintain or increase shareholder values and profit. So, in order to give something back to the general public, those companies have to assume their responsibilities by being aware of the effects of their activities in the community and take measures to control them because this can affect the community and the environment by polluting the air, destroying the ecosystem, over using natural resources and so on. CSR is often called corporate citizen which means that companies should be good neighbors of the community not to work against it but collaborate with the citizen or the society in order to increase their welfare, to make a community a better place to live.

There is currently a robust and ongoing debate about whether a companies, especially a publicly traded companies, only goal should be profit. Making money for the shareholders used to be what business was about. Now, more and more people are starting to believe that companies should pay more attention to social and environmental concerns that effect not just the shareholders, but the stakeholders and even society as a whole. The practice of Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, believes that everything cannot be left up to the market. The market exists to make profits at all costs. So, there needs to be a mechanism in place where social causes and the environment are taken care

and corporate social responsibility (CSR)”. Business need to transform for sustainable development. “CSR” is not only an empty talk which is also become the determinate factor of a company. “Jacoson and Nelson(2004) take more of a how-to approach, offering a principle-based framework for mastering what they called ‘new rules of the game’.” (Alessia, 2009) CSR of business began to wake. “There is growing sense that looking after the people and the community as well as the environment are all relevant to long-term business survival.” (Alessia, 2009) As the CSR become a esthetic standard and sustainability standard for a business, companies focus more on triple bottom line-people, profit and planet-also could definite as environmental, societal and business arenas. CSR is a start to lead business to sustainability. It is more likely a principle to measure companies’ ethics and sustainability. Berkhout indentified some challenges for companies under the CSR principle. “How to balance its social and environmental responsibility with its economic responsibility to

First, what is CSR? CSR is corporate social responsibility, which “refers to business practices involving initiatives that benefit society. A business 's CSR can encompass a wide variety of tactics, from giving away a portion of a company 's proceeds to charity, to implementing "greener" business operations” (Sammi Caramela). “Corporate social responsibility is a corporation’s initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing. The term generally applies to efforts that go beyond what may be required by regulators or environmental protection groups” (Corporate Social Responsibility).

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) could be essentially put as how organizations deal with their organizations, and the procedures embraced to viably deliver a general positive and enduring change inside the general public or the business environment where they work. Each business works in a regular social environment, and each business society contains the shareholders, clients, money related expert (Carroll and Buchholtz 2003, p. 36). Government, non-government associations (NGOS), neighborhood groups, unions, representatives, work environment, and environment.

Corporate social responsibility is a management concept, whereby an organisation activities are geared towards the compliance of strict ethical codes. These codes are then extrapolated to the organisation business activities in attempt to reduce the number of negative externatlies which may be conceived through malpractice. “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”(Henry-ford-News Journal-[Mansfield-Ohio]-3 August-1965). Therefore, corporate responsibility will play a substantial part in organisational behaviour, due to an increase in public awareness of social responsibility. Organisations will now feel obligated to adopt a utilitarian thought process when carrying out day to day activities. [Richard L. Daft, p149]“Corporate Social Responsibility is a hard-edged business decision. Not because it is a nice thing to do or because people are forcing us to do it because it is good for our business” –Niall Fitzerald-Former-CEO-Unilever.

CSR is a “corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on the environment and impact on social welfare” (Investopedia) through the implementation of “actions that appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm that which is required by law” (A. McWilliams, 2006).

However, today not only is CSR thought of as a business’s self-preservation for future survival, but also one’s duty to be socially responsible to the earth and people. As defined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, "Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the community and society at large" (1990). Although CSR is not a mandatory policy among business, many managers are adopting practices to increase profits though reputation, brand, identity and status (Ilona and Ruta 2012). Unfortunately, CSR is not widely implemented within business approach, and the demise is communications of these polies internally and externally is low, thus resulting in less effective outcomes. If management could find a way to integrate CSR into a structured strategy with polices, and concise direction and guidance, CSR aspects could be pursued and achieved on a day-to-day basis. Many workers feel confused that no such strategies exist

The 21st century has led to businesses having more Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) than before. CSR will help businesses to add value to their company. A business should know the importance of the value chain along with using CSR and not just look at profits. Customers like to do business with companies that are responsible inside and outside of an organization. When business fail with using CSR they will lose customers because customers like to do business with responsible businesses that show corporate social responsibility.

The importance and eminence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) across the business world started to increase during 1998-2007. Role conflicts often arise when competing demands like business goals and social goals are in question. The increase in the sense of social responsibility,stakeholder pressures and concerns for the environment has heightened the focus of businesses on CSR. A business that fulfils its CSR sufficiently can expect an improvement in its financial performance,enhanced brand reputation, a reduction in its operating costs,long term sustainability, a boost in staff commitment,innovation and production,better risk management,good relations with its stakeholders and development of closer links with customers. However,in today 's world CSR is not being dealt with serious and proper attention hindering the success of businesses.Business ethics concern the study of proper trading policies and practices regarding potentially controversial issues.They are guided by law and are based on a certain scheme that businesses should follow in order to gain public approval and be successful.CSR embraces responsibility for the behaviour of companies and motivates them to have a positive contribution and impact

W. Visser claimed [2] that, CSR is ' ' the formal and informal ways in which business makes a contribution to improving the governance, social, ethical, labour and environmental conditions of the developing countries in which they operate, while remaining sensitive to prevailing religious, historical and cultural contexts . ’ '

Social responsibility is an idea that has been of concern to mankind for many years. Over the last two decades, however, it has become of increasing concern to the business world. This has resulted in growing interaction between governments, businesses and society as a whole. In the past, businesses primarily concerned themselves with the economic results of their decisions. “Today, however, businesses must also reflect on the legal, ethical, moral and social consequences of their decisions” (Anderson 15). This paper will discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility. It will give the definition of the phrase, and identify some of the global factors that necessitate corporate social responsibility. It will discuss the importance of corporations setting up corporate social responsibility projects, and the impact these have on society. Social corporate responsibility and the maintenance of high ethical standards is not an option but an obligation for all business.