How to increase employee engagement in the company’s sustainability efforts.
How often have you encountered this situation when discussing sustainability?
“Yes, it’s important, but it’s someone else’s job, and I have more important things to do.”
Indeed operational tasks overtake strategic thinking on sustainability matters. Many business leaders say sustainability is essential. When operationalizing sustainability, however, you often find a large gap between intent and execution.
Yet it is up to all of us, employees included, to raise awareness and hold ourselves and the company accountable for its sustainability practices.
It is not a coincidence that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has a specific target to ensure that ‘all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…’ ( SDG 4, Target 4.7).
This is just common sense. Without knowledge of sustainability issues, an employee has no frame of reference to assess sustainability practices. If that foundational knowledge is missing, it is improbable that the employee will be motivated to promote sustainable business practices.
Much information is already available on how to engage employees in sustainability. The starting point has to be sharing of knowledge.
Here are three simple actions you can take:
- Ensure the relevant department includes sustainability training in onboarding new employees.
- Have regular workshops on sustainability.
- Get employees involved in the co-creation of sustainable practices.
These simple yet impactful actions do not require a large budget. What it does need is leadership and the will to act.
Have you got the will to act?
Nash Peerbocus is the CEO and Founder of Sustainability For Business. SFB provides training, workshops and courses on sustainability at affordable prices. Check it out here.
