CORE National Action Plan CSR Research 2018-converted

A National Action Plan for CSR
A MISCO International Report
September 2018

MISCO International was commissioned to conduct an awareness exercise that sought
to establish whether businesses across all regions of Malta and in all services sectors,
are implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and whether there is
room for a national action plan.
The questionnaire, which was designed by MISCO International and signed off by
CORE, sought to elicit responses about the CSR initiatives actioned by local businesses,
the obstacles faced and whether a national guideline would be welcomed.
One in three businesses are not aware of the term CSR while half of the sample
interviewed admitted that they were not aware of the concept of CSR before hearing
the full definition. In fact, any association with the term, brings to mind the
environment, society and the community and responsibility.
Nonetheless, once the different facets of CSR were explored, positive actions come to
light. It became clear that actions concerned with the environment and employee wellbeing
in particular are common in the business community. Moreover, two thirds of
the business community invest in CSR initiatives out of a genuine concern.
Nevertheless, investing in CSR initiatives does not come without challenges and local
businesses experience a somewhat lack of confidence in the difference that their
efforts may be making. Perhaps it is given this that a national action plan would be
welcomed.

WHO?
Businesses
N=200
HOW?
Telephone
WHEN?
July - August
2018

SAMPLE MAKEUP

Region
%
Northern 13%
Northern Harbour 51%
Southern Harbour 22%
South Eastern 4%
Western 7%
Gozo 4%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q101b. Region

Number of employees
28%
45% 17% 11%
1 to 10 employees 11 to 49
employees
50 to 249
employees
250 or more
employees
Base: All respondents (200)
Q103. Full-time employees

Company age
48%
1%
23%
16%
12%
Last year In the last 10 years In the last 15 years In the last 20 years More than 20
years ago
Base: All respondents (200)
Q104. Company established…

Main activity
Hospitality/ Tourism
Construction
Media/ Communication
Insurance/ Banking/ Property
Industry/ Manufacturing
Transport
Entertainment/ Leisure
Health
Other
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
4%
3%
1%
55%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q102. Main activity

The term Corporate Social Responsibility is
immediately associated with the environment, society
and the community and responsibility
Spontaneous Associations - Corporate Social Responsibility
Base: All respondents (200)
Q105. What comes to mind when you hear the words corporate social responsibility?

One in three do not know what the term means
however, the understanding of CSR lacks holism
among those who are aware
Spontaneous Associations - Corporate Social Responsibility
All
Contribute part of the profit to the community 43%
Contributing towards the environment 13%
Don’t know: 35%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q105. What comes to mind when you hear the words corporate social responsibility?

In fact just over half of businesses were not aware of
the full concept of Corporate Social Responsibility
Awareness of CSR concept
52%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q114. Before hearing this definition of CSR, were you aware that the concept of CSR goes beyond charity, sponsorships and other
similar initiatives?

Only one third of businesses in this sample have an
internal policy that addresses CSR
CSR Policy
31%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q115b. Do you have a policy or philosophy relating to or specifically addressing CSR in your company?

For one third of the businesses, the Directors are
responsible for CSR initiatives
32%
Directors
1
28%
Management
2
18%
Employees
3
12%
HR/ Marketing
4
8%
Committee
5
Base: All respondents (200)
Q115a. Does the responsibility of implementing CSR initiatives in business lie with a particular person or group of people?

ENVIRONMENT

Most businesses are becoming increasingly aware of
their effect on the environment
Recycling/ Reusing
Turning off unused office equipment
Water fountains
Occupancy/ daylight sensors and local light switches
Innovation of eco-friendly technology and practices
Reducing packaging/ plastic products
Good insulation systems
Renewable energy/ efficient systems e.g. PV panels
Eco-friendly infrastructures and offices
Reverse Osmosis
Reducing food and solid waste
90%
69%
58%
49%
35%
25%
22%
22%
21%
20%
19%
None: 1%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q106. What actions, if any, is your company undertaking to protect the environment in its business operations?

A couple more examples of business efforts to protect
the environment…
✓ Reducing the use of toxic/ ozone depleting chemicals
✓ Allowing Gozitan citizens to work from home
✓ Reducing the use of paper
✓ Financing transport vouchers (e.g. tallinja card)
✓ Certified
✓ Implementing ISO 14001
✓ Investing in Hybrid vehicles
Base: All respondents (200)
Q106. What actions, if any, is your company undertaking to protect the environment in its business operations?

EMPLOYEES

The vast majority of businesses look after their
employees by ensuring their well-being
Providing comfortable working conditions
Protecting labour rights
Allowing employees to work flexi hours
Creating safe and secure working environments
Ongoing training
Decent minimum wage policy for employees
Sending employees to workshops, conferences, etc.
Health insurance
Allowing employees to work from home
Quotas (e.g. women in senior positions)
Reducing discrepancies between wages
Food/ meal vouchers
None: 3%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q108. What actions, if any, is your company undertaking to ensure the well-being of its employees?
80%
79%
77%
76%
74%
73%
63%
50%
43%
41%
31%
23%

A couple more examples of business efforts to protect
employee well-being…
✓ Applying a policy which allows employees to check email during work hours only
✓ Providing employees with a gym membership
✓ Introducing child care at the organisation itself/ Providing child care vouchers
✓ Less working hours in summer
✓ Organizing team building activities
✓ Providing caps and sun protection creams
✓ Providing discount cards
✓ Providing uniforms
Base: All respondents (200)
Q108. What actions, if any, is your company undertaking to ensure the well-being of its employees?

COMMUNITY

Nonetheless, when it comes to our local community,
nearly half do not do anything
Collaborations to promote sustainable growth
Balancing community needs and company interests
Supporting organisations that work to protect the
environment
None
31%
26%
25%
44%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q109. Does your organisation do anything within the local community?

A couple more examples of business efforts within
the local community…
✓ Partnering up with companies who are concerned with sustainable agriculture
✓ Pressuring certain institutions or political parties for moral causes and public interests
✓ Donations (from employee collections)
✓ Voluntary work
✓ Provide help to MOAS
✓ Provide help to child institutions
✓ Provide help during Church functions
✓ Host inmates and foreign students
Base: All respondents (200)
Q109. Does your organisation do anything within the local community?

CHARITY,
SPONSORSHIPS
AND PHILANTROPIC
ACTIVITIES

Fund raising initiatives and blood drives are popular
activities frequently organised by businesses
Organising fund raising events
52%
Organising “blood donation” days
26%
Compensating hours of work with voluntary work
19%
Donating to charity institutions
19%
Collecting clothes, toys, small change, etc.
17%
None
19%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q111. What charity, sponsorship or philantropic initiatives, if any, does your company engage in?

A couple more examples of business charity,
sponsorships and philanthropic activities…
✓ Providing training for migrants
✓ Organising a clean-up
✓ Offering services for free or at discounted rates to those in need
✓ Collaborating with schools
✓ Helping in the building of new schools in third world countries
✓ Organising free meals
✓ Showing solidarity with employees
✓ Supporting Dar Il-Kaptan
✓ Supporting Hospice
✓ Supporting Lions Club
Base: All respondents (200)
Q111. What charity, sponsorship or philanthropic initiatives, if any, does your company engage in?

Over half of business efforts are conducted out of a
genuine concern
Genuine concern
Brand reputation and publicity
Cost savings
Employee engagement
Social responsibility
66%
19%
8%
8%
7%
Keeping up with competition
6%
None
10%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q112. Why does your organisation implement CSR initiatives?

Nevertheless, a CSR framework does not come without its
challenges
47%
23% 18% 13%
Lack of time Lack of resources Lack of funds Lack of interest
None: 26%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q113b. What obstacles do you face in implementing a CSR business strategy?

Ultimately, businesses require help to implement CSR
initiatives including the mention of a national framework
37%
28%
17%
Public aid (financial) Non-financial assistance National framework
Base: All respondents (200)
Q116a. What would encourage you to implement more CSR initiatives?

Confidence in the CSR initiatives being implemented by
businesses is somewhat lacking
3% 20%
Not at all confident
Bottom 2
Extremely confident
Top 2
Base: All respondents (200)
Q113a. On a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 is 'Not at all confident' and 10 is 'Extremely confident' how confident do you feel that your
CSR efforts are making a difference?

Over half of the sample believe that a National Action
Plan is required
National Action Plan
85%
Base: All respondents (200)
Q116b. Do you believe that a National Action Plan in the form of a framework, to which businesses all over the country can
adhere to and follow would be useful for your organisation?

A National Action Plan for CSR
A MISCO International Report
September 2018