Have you incorporated corporate social responsibility (CSR) into your business strategy but you’re still wondering about why employees aren’t knocking down your door to help promote these efforts? Don’t be surprised. This is a question that many employers ask themselves. In this blog post, Bayt.com will help you find ways to use CSR to attract and engage talent.

In the grand scheme of things, CSR is still an emerging field, which means that everything – from strategy to implementation – is still being tested. What we know, however, is that CSR initiatives reveal the true values of a company. CSR humanizes your business in ways that other facets of the job cannot; it depicts it as a contributor to society rather than as an entity concerned solely with maximizing profits.

Engaging employees in CSR starts at the very beginning

While we highlighted best practices for engaging employees in CSR initiatives, we believe that CSR should be communicated at all stages of the recruitment process in order for it to attain its full potential.

1. Attracting talent

While you’re fighting for top talent, make sure to include reference to your CSR efforts everywhere – from your job descriptions and job ads, to interviews, benefits packages, and job offers.

2. Becoming an employer of choice

In a previous article, we discussed the things that great recruiters do differently. Being an employer of choice is a reputation you build in your industry to attract top talent. Think about what a potential employee considers before agreeing to join your company. Do you actively serve your community? Does your mission catch the mindshare and heartstrings of the people you most want to recruit? You must know that employees feel a greater sense of pride and purpose working with an employer that is publicly committed to altruism, particularly when the causes the company is committed to are in-line with theirs, and benefit the greater community in a tangible manner.

3. Retaining talent

Regular CSR communication and initiatives are important to preserve the level of engagement and secure employee buy-in. Employees feel proud of and remain loyal to companies which involve their workforce in CSR initiatives. These activities are not only good for the local community, but also form great opportunities to team build, boost morale, and enable people to make a difference.

4. Engaging employees

This can be done by communicating CSR efforts to employees, seeking employee input about where the company should direct its CSR efforts, celebrating successes with employees along the way, and educating employees by offering customized workshops, training and educational activities. People simply want to work in a good company – a company they can believe in. Our Bayt.com HR experts always recommend marrying a company’s values, mission, and vision with day-to-day activities. But before you develop a CSR strategy, be sure you answer these questions in order to find a social cause that will be good for you and the community you work in.

So, how do you involve employees in your CSR activities? Share your thoughts!