Saturday, April 18, 2009 @11:53 AM
ST ONLINE REFLECTION
TERM 2 WEEK 4
SEC 2E/NA
Businesses are still big on doing good
(Part B – Home Section – Page B6 – The Home Market)
Question 1
What are big companies doing in order to be more socially responsible?
-The big companies are not cutting down on their CSR programmes. Communications
group SingTel's CPR programme is divided into four quadrants: Community, which
supports initiatives forcusing on youth and education. Environment, which aims to
reduce carbon emissions and cut down on paper usage. Marketplace, which involves
corporate governance. workplace, which provides learning and development
opportunities and quality work-life balance for its staff. Their energy saving
programme helps then to reduce business costs.
Question 2
How important it is to be socially responsible? And do you think it is still possible to make a social impact during the recession?
-Being a responsible company means living their values to enable them to serve food
responsibility and work towards a sustainable future. For fast food giant McDonald's
being socially responsible means concerted efforts to deliver long term results.
Sustainable supply chain, environmental and community responsibility, nutrition and
well-being and employment experience are equally important as philanthropic
activities in McDonald's corporate responsibility programme. In my opinion, i think
it is still possible to make a social impact during the recession. Last year, the
SingTel Torchig Lives Fund raised $2.2 million for less privileged children and
youths. Last month, real estate company ERA helped The Singapore Association for
the Deaf organise its first charity walkathon, raising $80,000.