How can businesses support the community during the covid-19 pandemic? What actions can managers take in their various organizations to curb the spread and protect society? What actions can organizations take to show they care for their customers’ needs and issues?
Literature Review
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an international concept for responsible organizations. It means that organizations or business entities have an ethical or moral obligation to their employees, customers, the environment, competitors, and the country’s economy that affects their business (Mahmud et al., 2021). Some people refer to it as a voluntary responsibility/commitment. No place in the law requires organizations to take part in community development. However, morally, companies need to benefit the community from which they generate their revenue. Not all companies have accepted corporate social responsibility as part of their functioning. The meaning of corporate social responsibility has evolved. Its definition in the 19th century was not the same, despite the concept being the same. In the 21st century, people have recognized that society and the business community are intertwined to exceed the normal relationships between employees, suppliers, customers, and the community (Mahmud et al., 2021). CSR has been classified as internal or external CSR. Internal CSR refers to an organization’s developmental benefits to its employees to show respect and acknowledgement of their hard work and commitment. The benefits include competitive salary payments, off-day services, commissions, and insurance coverage. External CSR refers to the organization’s commitment to developing the community, the natural environment and the consumers of its products and services (Mahmud et al., 2021). A company’s social responsibilities cover four areas: legal, ethical, economic, and philanthropic responsibilities.
Philanthropic is the first order of responsibility where businesses have a responsibility of giving back to the community and improving the quality of amenities and life of people present in society. This part primarily manifests itself in an organization’s internal and external affairs (Hishan et al., 2020). Companies participate in community fundraising or volunteering activities to give back to society. However, economic responsibility is any business entity’s first level and responsibility. When it is economically stable, it can cater to its employees’ needs and society. Legal responsibilities are the second level of the pyramid that states that companies are responsible for following all the state laws, rules and compliances (Hishan et al., 2020). For example, companies are not supposed to practice discrimination based on gender, race, or geographical location. Ethical responsibility talks to corporation management’s moral, just, and fairness in dealing with employees, customers, and community issues.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Responses to the Pandemic
CSR has been in practice in the United States for more than 50 years (Mahmud et al., 2021). Corporate philanthropic giving had exhibited itself during the covid-19 period when organizations had to help the community and its employees. Companies provided food and financial resources to the affected ones. In the tourism sector, hotels provide accommodation services to the infected and those to be quarantined. Although one person can see it as a form of business, it is social responsibility when howls provide price subsidies to those who will quarantine themselves in their facilities. Some organizations provide hospitals with personal protective equipment, sanitizers, testing kits, and respiratory systems (Teng et al., 2021). Organizations were forced to make some adjustments to cater for the impact of covid-19.
CSR and employees
An employee is one of the critical stakeholders of an organization. They determine the success, production and quality of an organization. An employee’s positive role is responsible for creating or improving an organization’s brand image, reputation, business growth, community development, good stakeholder relationship, and social welfare (Teng et al., 2021). In most human resource management literature and CRS domains, employees involved in CSR activities have a positive attitude toward whatever task they handle (Rupp & Mallory, 2015). When employees engage in CSR activities, they create many benefits for an organization and its employees (Xiao et al., 2020). However, the employee perception of CSR actualization affects a company’s operations.
Job-relevant CSR activities an organization provides can motivate and develop employees to increase their professional and social skills, leading to business growth (Mahmud et al., 2021). Modern research has argued that employee invol