How Your HR Practices Can Support Communities

As Environmental and Social Responsibility become less of a tag line for corporations and venture into significant culture pieces with measured impacts, it's the role of Human Resources to see that shift presented in their policies, procedures, engagement efforts and human resource practices. But how?

Social Procurement

HR departments procure services to support their teams. Many of these services are offered by social enterprise entities or have strong ES&G practices themselves. During the procurement process organizations can include qualifiers or rating which include social impact outcomes of service delivery both internal and external to your organization. Emphasizing positive social outcomes holds both parties to account. Going beyond a simple corporate commitment, purchasing services from a social enterprise also ensures that any profits are reinvested back into the community, not corporate coffers.

Team Member Engagement

Many organizations have a commitment to increase engagement of their team members. HR can direct engagement activities to celebrate, support and make meaningful contributions to their team members' communities. This isn't a pizza party solution but rather listening to what matters most to your team members and following their lead. This could mean team building while volunteering. HR can also sponsor fundraising events centred around the causes which best reflect their team members' affiliations. Being present and positive in your team members' communities also gives them an opportunity to celebrate where they work; pointing to the organization's activities with pride and saying "Yes, I work there."

Social Capital

As an eco system, the functions of human resources combine to provide a heathy support of team members who in turn build healthy relationships outside of work. At a fundamental level, hiring people from communities your organization serves ensures a link between the success of your business along side the success of the communities. The relationship between your organization and its consumer base is strengthened by the relationships you forge with your team members. Organizations can provide sustainable income, ethical practices and a positive work environment and in return a knowledge of it's community and enhanced feelings of trust and commitment.

Human resources can be a strategic driving force in any organization, regardless of size. It's important to recognize the the actions undertaken by HR can have an impact that is felt well beyond the walls of the organization and can improve the communities they serve in a way which may not be immediately seen but will be felt by many over the long term.