8 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Trends To Look For In 2018

One word comes to mind when I think of 2017: unprecedented. The events of the past year have tested companies in a number of ways and changed mainstream discourse about the role corporations should play in advancing and addressing social and global challenges. There's no turning back. In 2018, the expectation is that companies will continue to expand their activism on, and investment in, the issues that matter to their employees, customers and communities. Here are some key trends to look for.

The beginning of the end of workplace harassment and inequality

In February, Susan Fowler published herwhistle blowing essayabout sexism and harassment during her time at Uber. By the end of the year, the stories piled up and #MeToo took off, making it abundantly clear that women in every industry have had to deal not only with rampant sexual harassment, but also with corporate cultures and policies that are designed to keep them quiet and disempowered. If 2017 was about speaking truth to power, 2018 will be focused on concrete change, both in terms of internal reporting policies and addressing workplace inequality. As part of this, we're likely to see companies take a hard look at the gender makeup of their leadership teams and boards, and implement real steps to increase the number of women on both.

Expanding the diversity conversation

The past year has been a landmark one for women in the workplace, but it's important to remember that diversity initiatives need to address so much more. "The diversity conversation has to become broader -- it seems to be more and more focused on gender. It's got to be about more than women," saidCecily Joseph, vice president of Symantec. Symantecdefines inclusionas "creating a workforce that embraces every culture, language, age, sexual orientation, disability, background and experience - and giving a voice to those differences." As the population and workforce continue to grow more diverse, companies will need to focus on creating company cultures, experiences and products that speak to a wide range of identities and perspectives.

Focused and forward-thinking brand activism

Much of the CEO and corporate activism we witnessed this year came in response to presidential announcements. Leading CEOs issued reactive statements on everything from the immigration ban to public lands legislation to the transgender military ban to white supremacy to the decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement. We'll continue to see this, and it's important. But we can also expect more focused action, with companies designating social or policy areas where they can make the most impact and devoting more resources toward proactive initiatives.

"Business leaders have been heard in important new ways this year in opposition to withdrawal from Paris; the hate seen on the streets of Charlottesville, and the immigration ban," saidAron Cramer, CEO of BSR. "It will be crucial in 2018 for business leaders to add to this by stating what they are for: namely an effort to ensure that an economy in flux takes into account the disruption of employment; the need to invest in new technologies that will usher in a clean energy revolution, and also support for collaborative, multilateral solutions to global challenges."

A shift from disaster recovery to climate resilience

Along these lines, with the influx of natural disasters we saw in 2017, companies will invest more resources intoprevention, mitigation and climate resiliencerather than just recovery. According to BSR's report,The Future of Sustainable Business, no company will be immune from the consequences of climate change. To protect their businesses, supply chains and communities, companies must invest in innovative technology, redefine business models, and support policies that can address critical climate-related challenges.

More CSR in the C-Suite

With the heightened expectations on corporations as influencers in the social and environmental sphere, more companies are bringing CSR into the C-Suite. "We definitely see an increase in the elevation of corporate citizenship roles to executive status," saidKatherine Smith, executive director of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship (BCCCC). According to research from BCCCC, the number of companies directing corporate citizenship from the C-Suite has increased nearly 75 percent compared to five years ago.

.1. Read this fascinating Forbes article above, "8 Corporate Social Responsibility Trends to Find in 2018."

2. Search for the latest CSR report from the desired company (not all companies have it) (Please link the CSR document.)

3. Post on the forum below (Please answer 1-4, citing specific examples from the report)

(1)The selected enterprises (attached their CSR reports as bonuses)

(2) Identify the areas of CSR they are most focused on (e.g., Arbys using organic ingredients for customer health). Materialize (Initial name, date, scope, etc.)

(3) Does the article in the report show a trend?

(4) Do you think investors will find value in this report? Why or why not? Are they being audited/managed in any way?