More and more workers think that it is important for their employer to have responsible environmental policies in place, writes Gabrielle Monaghan
The green movement may still be in its infancy at Irish companies, but media coverage of climate change and high-profile documentaries such as Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth means employers battling for talent in a tight labour market can no longer afford to ignore workers' growing concerns about the environment.
Companies without adequate "green" policies in place could be losing talented employees to organisations that do, according to a survey carried out by Ceridian, a global provider of outsourced payroll and HR systems.
Sixty-nine per cent of employees surveyed by Ceridian think it is important for their employer to be environmentally responsible and 57 per cent wish their employers would do more.
Some of the world's largest employers are already leading the way. In Silicon Valley, which has some of the worst traffic in the US, internet search engine giant Google ferries about 1,200 employees to and from the office in 32 shuttle buses equipped with comfortable leather seats and wireless internet access.
Its aim is to make commuting painless for its employees, reduce emissions, and make the company attractive for new recruits. Google also gets a couple of extra hours' work out of employees who would otherwise be behind the wheel of a car.
The company also gives their employees a $5,000 (€3,690) bonus if they buy a low-emission hybrid car, and in Ireland, they give loans to employees willing to buy company bicycles, John Cusack, managing director of Ceridian in Ireland, said.
Employers including Goldman Sachs, Wal-Mart and Harley-Davidson are starting to ask for buildings with more natural light, fresher air and fewer toxic materials in the paint, carpeting and other finishes. In Britain, supermarket giant Tesco unveiled plans a year ago to create a £100 million (€146 million) environmental technology fund to find more sustainable sources of energy for its British stores.
"Some of the predictions associated with climate change are making headline news in newspapers, even tabloids - you even had a chunk of an ice cap break off behind the reporter when he was doing a BBC report," Cusack said.
"There was a time when drink driving might have been socially acceptable and now it must be unacceptable among 95 per cent of the population. The same goes for environmental responsibility." Ceridian found that 14 per cent of employees would change jobs for "greener" benefits, such as discounts on public transport, access to bicycles and recycled office products.
In the 16-24 age category, almost one-third of respondents described green benefits as a likely motivation to switch jobs, while 35 per cent of the total 1,000 employees surveyed felt green benefits would make them more loyal to their employer.
"Reflecting green credentials in benefits packages is a way for employers to differentiate themselves, particularly when targeting new entrants to the labour market," Cusack said. "People today recognise they need to do more to ensure the long-term survival of our planet and employees appear to be keen to do their bit when backed by like-minded employers."
Five or 10 years ago, the benefit plans offered to employees consisted of pension contributions and VHI, according to Cusack. Nowadays, flexible benefits are becoming more popular with large employers. It is within these packages that employers have the most scope to reflect their responsibility towards the environment.
"In the US, it's referred to as a 'cafeteria-style menu,' whereby employees can choose how they receive their benefits," Cusack said. "If you have €3,000 worth of benefits, you could choose a bicycle or a season ticket for CIÉ, for instance."
TIPS FOR A GREENER WORKPLACE
• Walk instead of taking the lift to save energy
• Turn off your lights at night and keep them off during the summer
• Switch off your mobile- phone charger when the battery is charged
• Turn off the PC at the plug
• Use energy-saving features on photocopiers, printers and PCs
• Switch off the monitor when it's not in use - a monitor uses twice as much as energy as a hard drive
• Use blinds to reduce solar glare in the summer, thereby cutting use of air conditioning
• Consider if you really need to print that document if you do, print on both sides of the page
• Reduce use of fax cover sheets
• Recycle printer and toner cartridges
