Is climate change hurting your recruiting efforts?
It sounds like a leap, but it may actually have an impact on employers' talent pools: Eighty-three percent of workers think their employer is not doing enough to be more sustainable and tackle climate change, and 65% would be more likely to work for a company with robust environmental policies, according to a 2021 report from intranet company Unily.
"Whereas sustainability and climate change used to be more siloed within companies, now it's really integrated throughout the company," says William Theisen, CEO in North America at EcoAct, a climate consultancy that provides a wide range of
Read more:
As employees see a growing number of companies prioritizing environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, it's become increasingly likely for them to expect more from their own employer on big-picture issues.
A recent study from Oxford Economics reported that 65% of companies have created a clear mission statement around sustainability, with an additional 23% in the process of developing such a mission — meaning that a total of 88% of companies are on the way to prioritizing sustainability and building pathways to reduce company-generated emissions.
These decisions are being made, in part, due to "transition risks," which refers to the decision a consumer may make when choosing between a product from an organization with low-carbon commitments and a similar product from a company without ESG priorities. Today's consumer will often choose the more
"If a company isn't doing what it needs to address climate change, and Gen Z wants something that's lined with their values, they will choose [to work for] a company that's
The SEC recently introduced a new set of rules to make sure sustainability targets aren't just for show. The regulator is pushing to standardize the disclosure of companies' carbon emissions; companies are now required to disclose their carbon footprint, whether it's a direct emission or an indirect emission through their chosen supply chain.
Read more:
"You can't manage what you're admitting to without measuring it," Theisen says. "As soon as they're disclosing their carbon footprint, the inclination is for companies to actually act on it."
As organizations become more transparent on their climate-based goals and efforts, it will empower consumers and employees alike to choose organizations that best align with their own priorities — and they're prepared to suss out insincere statements.
"Be transparent as opposed to saying things like 'we're carbon neutral' or 'we're net zero already,'" Thiessen says. "Go into the details of where you're at, what you're still investigating and the kind of challenges that you're facing."
