Hays, the world's leading recruitment and workforce solutions specialist, recently carried out a web poll revealing that nearly 50% of professionals lack a clear understanding of their organisation's sustainability strategy.
Key findings:
- 24% of respondents know their company's sustainability strategy very well.
- 29% have a moderate understanding of their company's sustainability strategy somewhat well.
- 25% admit to having a limited understanding of the strategy.
- 21% are unaware of their company's sustainability strategy.
Ahead of Earth Day, Hays conducted a survey of 2,135 professionals to gauge their awareness of their companies' sustainability strategies. Commitment to sustainability is becoming more important than ever with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Hays revealed a significant gap in communication and understanding within organisations regarding their sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability and environmental issues can sometimes be communicated in ways that are not easily understood by most employees, making it challenging for organisations to engage with them on these topics. Often, it could be jargon or complex terminology that loses impact over time along with the complexity of the subject and employees may not feel involved or motivated to participate in sustainability efforts.
Amidst challenging markets globally, companies are increasingly focusing on costs, putting sustainability initiatives at the risk of being deprioritised. However, as countries look to transition to low-carbon economies, embedding sustainability into their strategies should remain a key priority for organisations. Additionally, the growing regulatory emphasis on ESG is encouraging businesses to be more transparent about their environmental efforts.
Kirsty Green-Mann, Global Head of Sustainability at Hays comments:
"Sustainability efforts should not be confined to the boardroom—they need to be embedded throughout the organisation. Every employee plays a crucial role in driving meaningful change. To achieve this, it is essential that all employees are well-informed and actively engage in sustainability efforts through transparent and consistent communication. Businesses must embrace deeper disclosure, provide regular updates on sustainability initiatives, offer comprehensive training on how employees can contribute, and make accessible resources available to everyone.
"Programmes and initiatives that actively involve employees in sustainability projects are incredibly effective. For instance, Hays' Helping for you tomorrow programme empowers employees by offering a paid volunteering day dedicated to several areas of focus including environmental work, helping to create a more sustainable future. Last financial year an impressive 41% of our colleagues participated in this volunteering programme, demonstrating our collective commitment to sustainability."