In today's complex business environment, many corporate citizenship leaders are working strategically with their employee resource groups (ERGs). Also known as business network groups or affinity groups, these employee-led communities can foster a sense of inclusion and belonging, while sponsoring events and learning opportunities for people all throughout an organization.
Ready Response: Live Member Meetings, Building the Business Case for CSR, and more
COVID-19 is disrupting business operations and ESG programs across the world. To support your efforts in this time of disruption, we’re rounding up relevant Center resources, news, company best practices, and research and gathering it in one place at Resource(ful).
Blog: The Benefits of Peer Learning and Virtual Networking
Those who are able to work remotely during COVID-19’s period of physical distancing may already be realizing the value of social and professional interactions with coworkers--even if only on computer screens. Beyond the connection these meetups provide, there is more business value to be had. READ MORE
BCCCC Member Meetups
Our online member community offers a secure, supportive environment to connect and collaborate with hundreds of CSR peers. Now, corporate citizenship practitioners are sharing how they're adapting in response to COVID-19. We’ll be taking that discussion live beginning the weeks of April 13 and April 20.
Register now to hear from your peers and ask questions on the following topics:
Disaster relief/employee crises funds
Tuesday April 14; 3 pm EDT/Tuesday April 21; 12 pm EDT | Whether you are updating disaster relief polices or employee crises procedures or creating entirely new processes, you are likely encountering a lot of questions and could benefit from hearing how others are developing next steps. LEARN MORE
Virtual volunteering & employee support
Wednesday April 15; 3pm EDT/Wednesday April 22; 12pm EDT | Share how you’re shifting to digital shared experiences: from online gatherings, to virtual volunteering, to innovative engagement, and hear how your peers are overcoming similar obstacles. LEARN MORE
Changing your grant making focus and easing grant restrictions
Thursday April 16; 3 pm EDT/Thursday April 23; 12 pm EDT | Come with your questions about how best to navigate conversations with your grantees, how to loosen or remove restrictions on your active grants, and how to help your partners accelerate their work. LEARN MORE
Making the Business Case for Corporate Citizenship
This new Issue Brief explores the empirical relationship between good corporate citizenship performance and positive financial performance—even during times of disruption. Use this document to communicate to senior leaders the long-term value of integrating your corporate citizenship strategy with the vision and strategy of your company. VIEW ISSUE BRIEF
Members in Action
Check out our ongoing list of how companies are responding to COVID-19.
Companies are sharing their COVID-19 response efforts directly with the Center:
Sysco Corporation is helping San Antonio restaurants turn into pop up grocery stores. As demand for food increases and supplies seem to decrease at stores, food shortages are becoming a worry for many stores. Restaurants are becoming temporary grocery stores to allow customers to safely purchase the essential pantry items that they need for their families.
On top of Target’s previous donations of anti-viral and N95 respirator masks to first responders and healthcare professionals at more than 50 organizations across the country, the retailer also announced that it will donate an additional 2 million KN95 respirator masks to the medical community. It will continue to explore ways to secure additional inventory for those in critical need.
Wells Fargo has announced plans to distribute a total of $10 billion to small business customers under the requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The company's efforts will focus on serving two segments: nonprofits and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
How is your company responding to COVID-19? Let us know by contacting us at ccc@bc.edu
Relevant Research
In times of economic instability, strong corporate citizenship helps mitigate risk and positively impacts stock performance
Stronger corporate social performance helps reduce risk and is linked to more positive stock performance during times of crisis. READ MORE
Companies with a strong corporate citizenship reputation may avoid brand damage during crisis
Companies must consider community well-being and maintain a consistent reputation of strong corporate citizenship (both in communications and in action) or risk experiencing progressively negative effects during a reputational crisis. READ MORE
News You Can Use
What to know about hazard pay if you're working during coronavirus crisis
A handful of companies have announced pay bumps for front line workers as COVID-19 spreads throughout the United States. abc news
Coronavirus could trigger biggest fall in carbon emissions since World War Two
Researchers say that carbon output could fall by more than 5% year-on-year—the first dip since a 1.4% reduction after the 2008 financial crisis. Reuters
Join the discussion in our member community.
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