Socially Responsible Business
What does it mean to be a socially responsible
business? The Credit Union has been exploring this idea since we began operations
in 1979. We have sought to demonstrate social responsibility ourselves, and
hope through education to inspire other businesses and organizations to examine
social responsibility. Business organizations operate in a context that is much
broader than just their immediate marketplace. Their activities have social,
economic and political consequences whose impact may be felt on a local, national
or even international scale. Even small, local businesses have a large social
impact collectively. Stakeholders - customers, suppliers, employees, the local
community; in fact everyone who comes into contact with a business - have the
right to demand accountability. Dimensions of social responsibility encompass:
To be socially responsible, a business must have
a clear, rational definition of social purpose, a system of setting priorities
based on their social implications, and a structured, integrated approach to
financial and social action. Implicit in social responsibility is a new definition
of success for small business. For more information on social audits and socially
responsible business practices, please contact the Credit Union.
