What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
A wind-fueled fire nearly destroyed the Polartec textile factory at the Malden Mills complex in Lawrence, Massachusetts on December 11, 1995. The CEO, Aaron Feuerstein gained national attention after he continued paying workers as he rebuilt the business following the devastating fire.
“I was proud of the family business and I wanted to keep that alive, and I wanted that to survive. But I also felt the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs,” he told 60 Minutes in 2002.
During the interview Feuerstein was asked: What’s going to be on his tombstone? “Hopefully it’ll be, ‘He done his damnedest,’” he said. “You know, that I didn’t give up and I try to do the right thing.”
Doing the right thing – that is what CSR is.
Are companies really doing anything about it? Not really
In recent times, CSR has been touted as a remedy to prevent business failures. CEOs have addressed various issues such as escalating climate change, increase in gender violence, and rise in sexual harassment by pledging their corporations’ commitment to being “socially responsible” and leading the charge toward solutions.
However, much of this rhetoric appears to be mere lip service. CEOs are unwilling to take actions that might impact their bottom lines negatively. Their primary objective is maximising profits, not tackling social issues.
Why aren’t they?
In fact, real social change would prevent them from doing many of the hugely profitable things they now do. Which means they won’t change their ways unless they’re required by law to change (and even then, only when the probability of getting caught is higher than the profits from continuing their unethical practices.
How much is enough?
Insulin in US costs hundreds of dollars a month for about 30 million who are diabetics A recent US Law passed capped the cost to $35 a month for folks on Medicare only which is just 4 million older folks.
The US Government’s research found that it costs Big Pharma just $10 to produce insulin for a 30 day supply.
Someone told me that he recently met a friend from Australia who said that his doctor doesn’t allow him to give up BP tabs. Once you start these meds, it’s for life.
Perhaps that’s how the BP and diabetes meds are designed – to hook you for life with scant regard for the serious side-effects.
Since I am on retired income, I do not want to spend money on a new car. So I maintain my 2002 vehicle. A few months ago I asked the dealer for an estimate to make it road- worthy. The quotation was a mind-boggling $8700! I had it fixed elsewhere for $456. So how much is enough? It never is!
The Sad reality
The soothing promises of corporate social responsibility are intended to lull us in a false sense of security. Big corporations would violate laws on worker safety, wages and hours and pensions, whenever doing so was cheaper than obeying the laws.
For our new generation of leaders and directors, prosperity seems to take precedence over spirituality. Corporations will do whatever they can to maximise their profits and share values, social responsibility be damned.
What is the reason for this?
Perhaps we can blame “corporate greed” for this. But that would make sense only if corporations are capable of emotions, such as greed. They’re not. Corporations aren’t people, just a bundles of contracts.
The people who enter those contracts (on behalf of big corporations) are neither greedy nor socially responsible. They’re merely doing what they understand to be their jobs. If we want these atrocities to change – to align better with public needs rather than private profits – laws must change.
How was it then?
When we were in high school in the early sixties, (and did not have TV – thank goodness), we listened to BBC news at 7am and we were quizzed on the world events. The other reason was that we would lean to speak proper English.
There were great programs like the Drama of Medicine where we learned about the medical advances. Children’s shows had valuable moral messages. There were not too many commercials and there was truth in advertising.
What about now?
The TV is flooded with mind-numbing trash for hours on end. It is truly living up its unflattering albeit accurate name – “idiot box”. Just look at the programs listed in the dailies “Technology” has been aptly described by a guru as “tricknology” – it tricks your mind into seeing what they want you to see.
The function of the media is to educate, inform and entertain through news, features and analysis in the press. They can do this by producing documentaries, dramas, current affairs programs etc, — more programs like Your Voice and Jharokha . How about some educations programs like the Discovery Channel?
Watching TV can make you smarter, and more alert if the quality of programs are made to be intellectually stimulating. It is onus upon the media leaders to do this but they resort to mindless trash they get for cheap or for free.
The media were recently invited to cover a free medical camp. One of the media guys admitted that it doesn’t pay to cover such stories. Accidents and drugs get far more attention.
The meaningless blather over “corporate social responsibility” is intended to mask these trends.
So what can be done?
Can the decline of CSR be halted or even reversed? Yes! The million dollar question is if corporations are willing to do the right thing. Treat everyone with respect and caring – in a fair and equitable manner. Like the CEO of the textile factory.
Do I know anyone like that? The CEO of Singapore Exchange, Arun Sami, and the managing director of Jack’s of Fiji, Dilip Khatri, come to mind.
And of course, the Sai Prema Foundation of Fiji which is making a real difference to the lives of the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji.
The vision of this proposed children’s heart hospital is to become the most important pediatric cardiac care center for Fiji and the Pacific Island nations. All services at the Hospital including Heart Surgery is provided completely free of charge.
Life must go on and we must have faith in the power of good and God. God is in every good. CSR can only blossom if there is genuine love of God and fear of sin. Morality in society then has no choice but to grow.
- ARVIND MANI is a former teacher who is passionate about quality education. He lived in the US for 35 years and was actively involved in training youths to improve their speaking skills. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. He can be reached at theinspiredteacher9@gmail.com.
