Really?

I find these statistics extremely hard to believe in the current economic climate, however I’m hesitant to dismiss it completely as it does indicate that changing employee attitudes could have an effect on recruitment in the future. As the economy recovers and jobseekers once again find them themselves in a position to be able to choose between organisations to work for, what will be their decision criteria?

Money (nearly always the top consideration) , career development, location, availability of flexible working practices, company ethos (including carbon emissions?).

Many organisations, particularly the multinationals have entire departments designated to Corporate Social Responsibility. As defined by the EU CSR is “A concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment. A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis”.

Voluntary is a key phrase here but what would be the cost for an organisation who chooses not to join the club? Environmental concern is something that has become a necessity for an organisation to embrace rather than a differentiator, and with the CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) scheme starting in April 2010, organisations who used over 6,000 MegaWatt Hours in 2008 will have to participate, requiring them to trade carbon allowances and to cut carbon emissions.

Can you afford to be left behind?

If the trend therefore is moving towards ‘carbon reducing’ organisations, then you are either going to be ahead of the game , or a market follower and experience says that being ahead of the game makes you much more attractive to jobseekers, for example I wonder how many IT graduates are clammering these days to work for Apple, rather than Microsoft ?

How do you take the lead?

So, if carbon footprint does become much more of a key decision criteria, how will companies ensure they are attractive to high calibre, environmentally conscious jobseekers? Well other than the obvious (recycling policies, using renewable energy wherever possible and sourcing supplies from the UK rather than abroad)  flexible working practices are vital and should include the use of conferencing facilities to combat commuting pollution and reducing the number buildings an organisation requires to heat, light and power in order to save energy.

For those job roles that can accomodate remote working, organisations can tick both the work/life balance box as well as the carbon reduction box. We shouldn’t under estimate these drivers in the months and years to come.