The subject of social responsibility cannot be approached without first having demonstrated that the same principles have been applied within the company’s human resources function as a fundamental starting point in the path to sustainability.
Any enterprise that aims to prove its commitment to responsibility must first of all guarantee the effective management of its human resources, expressing a high regard not only for those who are already part of the company but also potential future employees.
The ethical management of employees does not only relate to the issues of child labour and working conditions in the third world, the areas on which the mass media and public attention generally focus, but also encompasses people care and development in general.
This obviously requires significant financial and managerial investment. The success of any company depends on the skills, motivation and commitment of its personnel over and above even that of its products, brands and manufacturing facilities or its advertising and promotions, finance and marketing. If these conditions are not in place all other efforts made within the company may be made in vain, placing its survival at risk.
The responsibility to create a sustainable working environment is a constant commitment, on one hand to ensure social capital is safeguarded and strengthened by implementing systems that cater for the needs of employees throughout their working life and on the other develop an intellectual asset base aimed at continuous skills development.
