*By Julia Adorno Quartarolo and Denny Thame
Currently, in order to consolidate a company in the market, it is highly necessary for it to build strong ties with its customers, employees and suppliers, along with carrying out acts that help the community in which it operates and the social impacts it brings. This is the main essence of S, the social aspect contained in the acronym ESG (in English: environment, social and government; translating: environmental, social, governmental).
Increasingly, consideration is being given to analyzing how companies relate to their stakeholders (all parties other than the company's owners, such as customers, shareholders and the community) and the actions and measures that a company can take to build its responsibility social impact the quality of life of different individuals, communities and society in general, through ethical actions. In addition to what is mandatory by law such as compliance with labor rights, a socially responsible company seeks to reflect positively on the lives of employees as well as recognize the needs and difficulties that each one has and that permeate working conditions.
An example of measures like this is promoting constant evolution and improvement of organizational culture so that all staff value the plurality and diversity of the workforce within the organizational environment; ensure safety against discrimination, harassment and prejudice; investment in projects that contribute to local development; stimulating the professional development of employees. These actions benefit not only society, but also the companies themselves, making their suppliers, customers and staff more valued, increasing satisfaction, synergy and productivity, while reducing failures, complaints and expenses.
With assertive attention, one must look at customers and understand their needs and fully understand what satisfies them, always focusing on an excellent approach and treatment of them, making use of innovations in products and solutions, transforming investments in these areas into customer loyalty and good organizational reputation. It is even better that this relationship is founded on trust, building on the positive impacts that corporate actions bring to the community, social, environmental and governance impacts.
This context includes helping and promoting social projects for the communities in which the company is located, such as projects that help with education, health and/or community safety, elements that, when improved by people in the community, can revert to of more qualified and healthier work for the company in the future.
Along these lines, the Brazilian Association of Software Companies launched a campaign called “Mobilization to Reduce Inequality” whose objective is to increase social inclusion by promoting training in the digital area by using resources obtained through the recycling of IT equipment that is discarded by companies participating in the project. These companies gain advantages such as being able to stand out in the market for effectively participating in the solution of a social problem, including more action in the portfolio of their ESG practices, in addition to the fact that the project organization already provides exemption from the logistics costs of disposing of equipment and a socio-environmental impact report, which can be used in the company's sustainability and social responsibility report, together with the project's seal and certificate of participation.
The initiative is open to all companies in the country, whether associated with Abes or not, who wish to participate. This is a movement led by Global Compact, a United Nations initiative focused on increasing business commitment to Human Rights and some Principles basic.
*Denny Thame is a fellow at Think Tank ABES. Julia Adorno Quartarolo is a researcher in the Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy group at Esalq-USP.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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