Employee Engagement with Sustainable Business

Book excerpt: Sustainability is, and continues to grow as, a key issue for organizations: in the board room; with investors, customers and regulators; and from employees whose demands on organizations include improving their social and environmental performance in return for loyalty and commitment. However, as well as employees being a driver for organizations to embrace corporate sustainability, employees are also one of the most critical assets in enabling an organisation to understand and be able to deliver to its economic, social and environmental responsibilities. Research shows that employees of all types are vital in the pursuit of sustainability, however, to date there is no one source that shows all of these identified types of employees and how they are involved in the sustainability process. This book fills that gap with interviews and case studies for each type of employee, as well as up-to-date research and analysis of the critical role of ‘social intrapreneurs’ and leaders within organisations. The book uses real life examples along with the latest research in an informative and accessible style. Management theory is used throughout – such as motivation, leadership skills and organisational behaviour – but this is discussed through examples, rather than in a theoretical manner. This book will provide insight, examples and advice on the different types of employees who are, and can, contribute to a sustainable world via the organisation they work for: what they are doing from within the organization to contribute to societal, economic and environmental sustainability.