CSR in Microsoft: HR Point of View
Bangalore: CSR is always seen as a tool to enhance company's image in the society. But in reality the adoption of CSR strategy not only boost the organization's commercial sustainability but also serve as a modem for giving back the prosperity to the community.
To encourage the spirit of philanthropy and environment awareness Microsoft have developed various programs which are great examples of CSR adoption strategy. These were published in their Environmental Report White Paper titled "Becoming Carbon Neutral: How Microsoft is becoming Lean, Green and Accountable". Here are the few examples included in the white paper.
1) Environmental Sustainability Leads:
This program basically focus on decreasing employee travel, driving energy efficiency improvements in their local offices, creating awareness among with customers and partners about role of technology in environmental sustainability, and bonding with local policymakers to help advance the use of IT in enabling a low-carbon economy.
2) Sustainability Champions:
The basic purpose of this program is to reduce controllable energy consumption by 3-10 percent per building at the plug level. By volunteering as Sustainability Champions play active role in decreasing energy uses, saving water and deflecting waste from landfills. They also encourage their co workers to be environment friendly.
3) MS Green:
This is a part of Grassroots Community group which aim at creating environment awareness in employees. They also function to educate workers about mass transit, energy conservation, organic farming, and other local resources.
4) Environmental Action Award:
This is a prize given on quarterly basis to recognize an individual or a team of employees who has made major contribution to reducing environmental impact of Microsoft or its products. The prize money is a whopping $1, 000 which they can donate to any environmental charity of their choice.
According to Josh Henretig, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Microsoft, "Human Resources is a key stakeholder in the development of environmental employee engagement programs and partners with the sustainability office and other groups in the phases of idea, program and policy development." But today HR managers are preoccupied with recruitment, training and compensation that they cannot see the prospects of that CSR for their organizations and global sustainability. Taking Microsoft as an example if the HR managers take similar steps they can surely help to make their organization carbon neutral.
