Challenge for HR - National HRD Network

More documents

Recommendations

Info

HR Managers & a Green Industry ? That we are destroying our delicate eco system is a truth that cannot be refuted. Only the most callous would ignore the fact that our consumption patterns have gone so far overboard that the ecological system that we dwell in and to a larger extent the earth as such cannot sustain our greed anymore. The world over, arable land is being destroyed, forests are being denuded and animals driven to extinction. There has been a volatile and long-standing debate about whether it is a corporation's duty to become more sustainable and socially responsible beyond complying with the law, or whether its sole duty is to legally maximize profit, no matter the long-term societal cost. Ultimately, the assessment drives home the point that there is little choice: either corporations become more sustainable and responsible, or the quality of life on Earth-and corporations' bottom lines-will inevitably decline. Ecosystem deterioration will intensify many of the risks and costs of doing business: it will make key resources and ecosystem services, such as fresh water and climate regulation, less available; it will heighten regulatory oversight; it will alter customer and investor preferences; and it will jeopardize the availability of capital and insurance. While the business sector must become more responsible and lead the drive to make society sustainable, without the right incentives and pressures, corporations will not do this quickly enough. Consumers, citizens, and employees must support corporate leaders who step up to the challenge, and punish those who do not. Such basic actions as deciding which bank to have a savings account in, which shoes to buy, which companies to work for, and which political efforts and candidates to support will help reshape the market. But to succeed, these incremental efforts will need to be supported by aggressive actions by NGOs, policymakers, and savvy business leaders-actions that will make all corporations recognize that their long-term financial success depends not just on pursuing the bottom line, but on doing so in a socially and environmentally responsible way. How can the HR Manager contribute? Though most green industries have environmental engineers, it would be the task of the HR Manager, to facilitate, the process. A few likely scenarios would be: l Every ton of recycled paper saves 380 gallons of oil. Think Quest, 2006 Paper and its use is one area where we can make a definite difference. Try and create a paperless office by reducing memo's and files. Use technology and archive files in a soft format. If paper has to be used use recycled paper, though in the short term, it would affect your bottom line. l Every 20 minutes, the world adds another 3,500 human lives but loses one or more entire species of animal or plant life-- at least 27,000 species per year. Overpopulation.org, 2006 Counsel employee's against having large families. Create incentives for people with only one child. l We are consuming the earth's resources 20% faster than they can be sustained. Scripps Howard News Service, 2006 Cut the number of vehicles that your company uses. Plan better and use pool cars, to save on fuel. It could significantly add to your bottom line as well, by saving on resources. Discourage employees traveling large distances to work. l The energy saved by recycling one, aluminum can, will operate a TV set for 3 hours. ThinkQuest, 2006 Think and use recycled items. Basic things like waste bins and paper can be made of recycled board or paper. Capt.A.Nagaraj Subbarao is Chief Officer, Vanoord India, Bangalore and E-Maila; cap.nagaraj@gmail.com l – Capt A Nagaraj Subbarao 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury can contaminate 20 acres of a lake, making the fish unfit to eat. Computer TakeBack, 18 Aug 2005 What industry, in most areas, does not do today is to segregate garbage. Garbage disposal is a key to pollution and can be easily done with a little discipline. It would also show clearly, as to what kind of garbage is being generated and then probably suggest a mechanism to cut this down. l If everyone in the world consumed like the average U.S. citizen, we would need at least four more planet Earths. Purchasing Power: World Watch Paper 166 Remember that in many areas our earth is non renewable, if we continue to consume at the frenetic pace that we do today. Despite our individual purchasing power and increased aspirations remember that this is a world that belongs to our future as well and we need to preserve it for our children. One area where different resources are used widely is in the field of training and development. On occasions a mass of people are moved great distances to impart training to them, utilizing resources like transport and accommodation and the logistics of moving such a mass of people. This can be dealt with by the HR Manager by using web based training, where the training material can be delivered to the trainee, at his/her door step. The idea is not simplistic but can be looked at very seriously. This is an area in India, which HR has not focused on. HR could play a major role in facilitating a greener industry and work with design and environmental engineer's in deploying technology where consumption of resources is reduced and the production process is a closed loop, where generated waste is recycled. u H | HRD News Letter | December 2007, Vol.23, Issue:9 24 |
Globarena Add | HRD News Letter | December 2007, Vol.23, Issue:9 25 |
Page 2 and 3: | HRD News Letter | December 2007,
Page 6 and 7: 11 th National Conference Kolkata p
Page 8 and 9: Vol - 23 December 2007 Issue - 9 Ed
Page 10 and 11: ETHICS AT WORKPLACE The single most
Page 12 and 13: Editorial Ihave a couple of points
Page 14 and 15: The Artist and the Audience Insight
Page 16 and 17: Educating Facts and Factoids India
Page 18 and 19: SESSION WISE SUMMARY OF 11 TH NATIO
Page 20 and 21: Module 8: Leadership Learning from
Page 22 and 23: Learning and Failure in Human Organ
Page 26 and 27: Telecom, IT, ITES / BPO, FMCG, fina
Page 28 and 29: 7 Steps to Implement Balanced Score
Page 32 and 33: Second International Dialogue on
Page 36 and 37: Facelift To Human Resourcees Accoun
Page 38 and 39: After the invention of the transist
Page 40 and 41: Virtual Teams - Challenge for HR "W
Page 42 and 43: Quality Function Deployment (QFD):
Page 44 and 45: A new revolution: What employees he
Page 46 and 47: Bosco, What Is The Solution? Case S
Page 48 and 49: Monster Jobs | HRD News Letter | De
Page 50 and 51: HR Thought Leaders’ Symposium by
Page 52 and 53: HR Competency Certification: Assess
Page 56 and 57: Chapter News decided to hold the ch
Page 58 and 59: 11th National Conference News Cover
Page 60: | HRD News Letter | December 2007,

Challenge for HR - National HRD Network

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?