CSR activities continue to be a major focus area for businesses in the region, especially for those in the UAE. Remaining socially relevant is part of most business leaders’ vision, and it is becoming more and more evident, particularly in the face of crises.
GCC economies have long recognised and given importance to lending a hand to the underprivileged and initiatives such as Dubai Chamber’s “CSR Label” are examples for this.
The ongoing pandemic crisis presents a lot of opportunities for organisations looking to take up CSR activities with long-lasting impacts, and these are sure to bring them closer to the communities around them.
We are already seeing enterprises rise above the situation and becoming more innovative and creative in caring for their employees, customers, and members of the communities. It is heartening to see many organisations are serving as responsible corporate citizens by going to great lengths to show that they care.
If we were to lay down our priorities during a pandemic crisis situation such as this, there is no doubt employees come first. Therefore, top priority should be ensuring the comfort and safety of employees, as they are the most valuable asset of any organisation.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that your employees feel stressed and uncertain while coping with an unprecedented crisis situation, combined with legitimate fears about the spread of the disease. In this context, employee well-being extends to mental health as well.
The last thing you want to do right now is to add to the stress levels of your employees
Companies have a role to play in making CSR a mainstream priority for all leading businesses, in order to ensure sustainable growth. In addition to being commercially successful, remaining socially relevant through balancing your approach by considering the needs of customers, employees, society and finances is necessary to achieve long-term goals.
Read full article by Chris Roberts, CEO at Eltizam, on Gulf News.