CSR Europe Launches Blueprint “Companies for an Inclusive Society"
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
The Blueprint, developed with the support of Enel and PwC Belgium, will be launched today at 11:30 CET during the high-level plenary session of the European SDG Summit 2021, in the presence of European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit.
Amidst the green and digital transition, the Blueprint highlights how companies can remain successful by tackling employability, social inclusion and care for employees, communities, and stakeholders.
Brussels, 13 October 2021 – CSR Europe, with the support of Enel and PwC Belgium, is releasing today the Blueprint “Companies for an Inclusive Society” at the high-level plenary “Creating a Future-Proof and Inclusive Work” at 11.30 CET, in the presence of European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit. The event is hosted in the framework of the European SDG Summit 2021.
Amidst the challenges of employability, social inclusion and well-being brought about by the twin transition - and accelerated by the pandemic - the Blueprint defines what companies can do practically to remain successful in the new normal and identify what is meaningful for its employees, communities, and stakeholders.
The pandemic has put the mental well-being of the global workforce in jeopardy. Stress, tiredness, and burnouts have proliferated during the pandemic. In this context, some companies have assumed a leading position in protecting workers’ health and well-being, promoting healthy and safe environments, and providing employees with additional and tailored support. Meanwhile, diversity & inclusion (D&I) and life-long learning in the workplace start to be considered business imperatives for organizations: companies that create inclusive work environments and invest in employees’ personal growth are more dynamic, creative, and become magnets for attracting top talent.
As a result, the document collects reflections and recommendations from 14 different organisations – Adecco, Enel, Engie, the European Trade Union Confederation, Hitachi, HP, IBM, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Microsoft, Organisation for Economic Co-operation, and Development (OECD), SGI Europe (formerly CEEP), Sodalitas, Titan, TotalEnergies – on Well-Being; Diversity and Inclusion; People Growth.
Michele Crisostomo, Chairman at Enel, said: "At Enel, we are glad to be part of the Inclusion Think Tank that has contributed to share knowledge and experiences and strengthened our effort for a just transition that is inclusive of workers’ diverse experience and skills. We look forward to working together to seize the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition, promoting our people’s skills and enhancing the value of inclusion.”
Bart Van den Bussche, Director at PwC Belgium, said: “The rapid changes in work activities and models, speeded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, requires that policymakers, companies and stakeholders have an ambitious vision and take decisive actions to promote personal development, inclusion and well-being. A people-centred approach needs to be implemented to put sustainability at the core of organisations’ business models.”
Tom Verboven, Director at PwC Belgium, said: “The blueprint we pulled together with CSR Europe not only offers a wide range of insights but also actionable recommendations. The blueprint serves as a framework for discussion and dialogue among different stakeholders, to support companies reflecting on their role for the future and the main drivers for them to thrive. More work will have to be done. We have now built up momentum for action, which could have a strong positive impact on our vision for the future.”
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO at TotalEnergies, said: “A company is first and foremost a people-driven adventure. Our ambition - being a world-class player in the energy transition- depends primarily on the women and men who work at TotalEnergies. More than ever, we are committed to a just transition, by offering our employees opportunities to develop and thrive professionally, based on respect for each other, inclusive corporate culture and improved quality of life at work.”
CSR Europe Executive Director, Stefan Crets, said: “Leadership can only yield impact if systemic change and transformation of the entire eco-system is envisaged. This happens when leading companies engage with their value chain peers and other stakeholders.”
The Blueprint is the result of the action-oriented Inclusion Think Tank – run by CSR Europe with the support of Enel - whose ambition is to:
Take stock of all insights and challenges and rethink the “entire value chain of creation”.
List experiences from different industrial sectors and identify best practices, also with a view to intersectional recovery and resilience while considering diversity dimensions.
Provide policymakers and peers with practical suggestions and potential guidance, based on the challenges experienced.
About CSR Europe
CSR Europe is the leading European business network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. With our corporate members and National CSR organisations, we unite, inspire & support over 10,000 enterprises at local, European, and global level. We support businesses & industry sectors in their transformation and collaboration towards practical solutions and sustainable growth. We are for systemic change. Following the SDGs, we want to co-build with the European leaders and stakeholders an overarching strategy for a Sustainable Europe 2030.
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