Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – Making it a Career Option for Social Workers
This article is authored by our guest blogger, Dr. Mark Glazebrook, Chief Purpose Officer at On Purpose.
The first time I heard the name, Corporate Social Responsibility, I was both delighted and a fair bit sceptical. Delighted to see business and social impact being linked through responsibility, but sceptical because of the tendency of business to talk itself up, often without merit.
That was over 20 years ago, and after many years working as an Organisational and Macro Social Worker, I was dismayed by the repetitive and intractable nature of social work. Despite the work in policy development to address social issues, resources did not seem to be improving and clients remained in situations way beyond their control.
So, I took it upon myself to “re-educate” myself about the field of CSR and read anything I could get my hands on. Viewed through my social work education and training, the rigour behind CSR was pedestrian. It was and still today to some degree, about cherry-picking social or environmental issues that a company feels comfortable investing some resources into. At worst, this can be a PR or philanthropic exercise to paint the company in a positive light by being associated with a respected NGO desperate for money. However, at its best, businesses can create breakthrough and lasting social change that has eluded government and community on their own.
Since that time, CSR has become known by many, many names: Corporate Citizenship, Sustainability, Triple Bottom Line, Social Impact, Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG), and a list of others, as long as your arm. This can be confusing for anyone new to the field. But rest assured they are all part of a wider family of effort. Think of CSR as you would exercise. There are so many aspects to exercise. Running, sport, circuit training, PT, gym, weights, and on and on… all of it as a form of exercise, just under different names.
Fortunately, CSR has become more rigorous and now, leading companies no longer see CSR as an add-on or discretionary but rather a key part of their overall business strategy and risk management. For example, we all remember the examples of large sportswear companies ignoring the human rights of their manufacturers and being the brunt of boycotts and negative media.
Since those times, businesses have recognised they don’t have the necessary skills internally to tackle CSR well, so have been actively recruiting professionals who bring ‘non-business’ skills to make their approach to CSR authentic and innovative. We, as Social Workers, are trained to see the world differently from others-- this is our superpower. Armed with this ability you can contribute ideas to situations that people trained in business may not be able to. I have sat in many business meetings where groupthink was alive and well. Concerns about being seen to challenge the status quo, being seen as a team player, etc. can paralyse certain people.
Whereas advancing the human condition and communities is now core business for corporations. They may not do it well and even create problems in the first place, but that’s where social work fits in.
Making the transition into Corporate Social Work is not as hard as it seems. Social Workers are trained at being able to adapt themselves, their interactions, their choice of words with clients in order to build rapport and engagement. These skills apply equally when presenting to business. For example, learn the language of CSR by reading, familiarising yourself with people in the field by attending webinars, conferences, or network gatherings.
Like when working with a client in a clinical setting, the more you learn, the more it helps to inform what unique contribution you can bring to the work -- the same happens in CSR. As you get exposed to the diversity of what CSR covers, some areas will jump out at you and prompt you to make contact with specific people. But remember it’s a competitive area and it will take effort to get your foot in the first door. Much of CSR is done now by consultants and external providers. Investigating opportunities in this space may be a good first step to build up your experience. Lastly, avoid simply asking for a job. Make yourself known to people in the field by asking questions on digital forums, providing comments that seek to be constructive, investing in getting to know key players in the space, and learning about their own career trajectories. People watch what others do and a comment today could lead to a conversation tomorrow and work soon after. Sometimes it's about luck, being in the right place at the right time. However, you can make your own luck, by being proactive and not simply waiting for a job ad to fall on your lap. Many CSR professionals start off on short-term projects or contracts which lead to ongoing work. I also provide CSR career coaching to help people identify their specific strengths and how these can be adapted as a CSR professional.
Dr. Mark Glazebrook is a Registered Social Worker based in Melbourne, Australia. He has extensive experience as a corporate social responsibility professional and coach. His Ph.D. was the first CSR doctorate in Australia and created a model for developing and embedding CSR within business. He consults with corporations about how CSR can build innovative solutions and products. He received a global award for his contributions to First Nations as well as from the Australian Prime Minister. You can learn more about Dr. Mark’s experience here.
