Amongst many roles that HR plays in an organization, one crucial role is to ensure that company adopts Corporate Socially Responsibility program as per its business rubrics. Once it is done, then HR needs to plan its implementation and look after its adoption proactively. Later on, success of CSR needs to be documented and celebrated throughout the company. Therefore, HR and CSR go hand in hand in achieving its objective. 

“CSR and HR are very linked. Why do you think HR is a victory for CSR? The reason is that if today human resources management and human resources development are deeply embedded in the very soul of the organization, then it is a victory for corporate social responsibility. It is so because the very thing that HR takes care is - people in the organization.  An energized, engaged and enthused HR professional would interface with the society in a similar manner. We’ve been doing businesses for centuries. Gone are the days where some organizations did not consider people as a resource or asset of the company. But today we celebrate care , compassion , empathy , engagement , enthusiasm and see people as people (humans)  in the organization,” explains Vineeta Dutta Roy , Professor and lead CSR , Birla Institute of Management Technology at 35th national conference and exhibition, NATCON 2016 by  NIPM held at Navi Mumbai. 

CSR and Corporate Sustainability 

In both CSR and Corporate Sustainability- the context, community and environment in which a business thrives is important and integral to business success. Therefore, both are embedded in in the company’s mission and vision. 

“Sustenance practically means to live, to empower or to help. If we look at the evolution of CSR, we will see that 40 -50 years ago, industries in public sector fold and few in private sector were opened in the backward regions. Now, did they do corporate social responsibility? The answer is yes. The area in which they were placed they worked for socio -economic upliftment of that region. That was inbuilt corporate social responsibility which was done by corporates then. Over the time business purposes have changed. Businesses were set up then mainly to give employment and to ensure that upliftment of society of that particular region. That was purpose of business in those days. Now business profile, vision and mission have changed. In order to sustain the business, we have to earn profits. It was felt that CSR is also needed for the business and part of the earnings that is 2percent of profits was dedicated for it. Unless and until we take care of our social involvement where we are doing the business – the business cannot be successful,” said  SB Bhinde , Chairman & Managing  Director at Hindustan Organic chemicals Limited at 35th national conference and exhibition, NATCON 2016 by  NIPM held at Navi Mumbai. 

While some feel people and organisations together can only fetch profits for the company , “CSR is a very critical element for corporate sustainability.  Shouldn’t the effectiveness and efficiency in the way we do the work be a crucial factor governing corporate sustainability? What about profits? Profits only come when people and organizations come together and worked hard for it,” adds Vineeta. 

Employees prefer to work for an organization which is aligned to their values therefore; integrating CSR into the employee brand can help increase recruitment and retention for the company, thereby benefitting HR.