Hays research has found that nearly 50 per cent of professionals lack a clear understanding of their organisation’s sustainability strategy.
A survey of 2,135 professionals found:
- 24 per cent of respondents know their company’s sustainability strategy very well.
- 29 per cent have a moderate understanding of their company’s sustainability strategy somewhat well.
- 25 per cent admit to having a limited understanding of the strategy.
- 21 per cent are unaware of their company’s sustainability strategy.
Commitment to sustainability is becoming more important than ever with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, however Hays revealed a significant gap in communication and understanding within organisations regarding their sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability and environmental issues can sometimes be communicated in ways that are not easily understood by most employees, making it challenging for organisations to engage with them on these topics. Often, it could be jargon or complex terminology that loses impact over time along with the complexity of the subject and employees may not feel involved or motivated to participate in sustainability efforts.
Amidst challenging markets globally, companies are increasingly focusing on costs, putting sustainability initiatives at the risk of being deprioritised. However, as countries look to transition to low-carbon economies, embedding sustainability into their strategies should remain a key priority for organisations. Additionally, the growing regulatory emphasis on ESG is encouraging businesses to be more transparent about their environmental efforts.
“Sustainability efforts should not be confined to the boardroom—they need to be embedded throughout the organisation,” said Kirsty Green-Mann, Global Head of Sustainability at Hays. “Every employee plays a crucial role in driving meaningful change. To achieve this, it is essential that all employees are well-informed and actively engage in sustainability efforts through transparent and consistent communication. Businesses must embrace deeper disclosure, provide regular updates on sustainability initiatives, offer comprehensive training on how employees can contribute, and make accessible resources available to everyone.”
Green-Mann notes that Hays’ own ‘Helping for you tomorrow’ programme empowers employees by offering a paid volunteering day dedicated to several areas of focus including environmental work, helping to create a more sustainable future. “Last financial year an impressive 41 per cent of our colleagues participated in this volunteering programme, demonstrating our collective commitment to sustainability,” she says.
