Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is nothing new for MicroSourcing. Like many businesses, our organization has long believed we not only have a responsibility to our shareholders and clients but the wellbeing of the society around us. In our case, that is the people of the Philippines and our hard-working staff have a proud history of reaching into their pockets to support those in need.
There has been a change in recent years though.
While team members initially donated money, there has been a growing realization across the company that there is something much more valuable we can gift the community – our time. Just as CSR has evolved from philanthropic roots to become a dynamic sector all of its own, MicroSourcing’s commitment to ‘creating positive change’ has changed to reflect the world in which we live.
Following my appointment as HR Employee Engagement Manager in 2012, I saw a keenness among our people to further immerse themselves in our CSR activities. It was no longer enough for them to simply donate money. They wanted to directly connect with the communities and initiatives they were impacting and we were more than happy to provide them with the chance to do so.
From those humble beginnings, MicroSourcing today oversees a corporate social responsibility framework that serves the communities in which we operate. Three words sum up our mission – Create Positive Change – and we have paved the way by joining forces with like-minded organizations and providing opportunities for our employee volunteers to make a difference.
In particular, we have made a commitment to three CSR focus areas:
Under the banner of MicroMissions, our CRS efforts are no longer measured solely in terms of dollars and cents. From volunteer hours and school kits distributed to the number of trees planted, we have a diverse and eclectic range of measurables that collectively tell the story of how much our people care for those around them. Rather than simply donate money to a cause, they visit the communities that will benefit from their generosity. They spend time with them, ask questions and ultimately provide the support they need.
Instead of just paying for school supply kits for marginalized children in Patayas, our volunteers visit them for a series of games and other fun activities. They hit the streets to participate in charity fun runs to help improve the living conditions of children with cancer. They put on their gloves and plant Narra trees alongside farmers and mothers at GreenEarth, a reforestation site on 100 hectares of donated land.
Most importantly, they gain awareness of the social and economic issues impacting so many of their countrymen and women and experience the fulfillment that comes from making positive change.
For all the increasing focus on CSR, it is not compulsory and many companies choose not to pursue such initiatives. However, there are several reasons it is the perfect fit for MicroSourcing.
The days of businesses operating with the sole aim of making profits at the expense of all else are over. Between the environment, employees and wider society, companies need to consider how they can give back to the communities in which they operate. Not only is it the right thing to do but history shows it leads to improved employee engagement, increased talent attraction and positive word of mouth. MicroSourcing is proud to be leading the way with CSR initiatives in the Philippines outsourcing market and building a culture of giving that extends far beyond our own social circles.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the concept that a business has a responsibility to the society that exists around it and acts in an ethical and transparent way to positively impact the world. It is a form of self-regulation that can be expressed in initiatives or strategies and plays a crucial role in a company’s brand perception, talent attraction and retention, and overall success.
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