Climate change is a global problem that has given rise to a new form of employer branding and marketing. In recent years organisations have been compelled by employees to take environmental action and curb the environmental footprint of the workplace. Sumting helps these organisations to become a force for good, by restoring nature and fighting climate change by creating a planet portfolio for the company and its employees. Here’s why that’s so important;
Staying relevant with sustainability initiatives
In the coming years staying attractive to the new generations and workforce is essential to stay ahead as a business. Naturally businesses know that talent is a crucial part of their strategies, but what is often overlooked is the importance of sustainability in attracting, retaining and engaging that talent. Within 3 years the majority of the workforce will be millennials, who have been proven to prioritise sustainability incentives and expect their employers to offer projects to participate in. Millennials are not afraid to turn down jobs that do not have their values aligned to theirs, especially in leadership roles. 36% of millennials have refused a job due to personal ethics and 46% of millennials and Gen Z’s have refused a senior position due to personal ethics. Matt Teeney, CEO of The Generous Group and author of several books on the things millennials look for in new employment, revealed that:
Beyond the future
Beyond the upcoming workforce, which is mostly made up of millennials, there is another generation entering the fray: Gen Z. Defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z is starting to enter the workforce and is expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2025. ‘Purpose over profit’ is the phrase that sets Gen Z apart from previous generations as it has been dubbed the “change generation”. Currently a large portion of Gen Z workers are dissatisfied with their current employment, 40% are planning to leave their current work within 2 years and 35% would like to leave without having another job lined-up. 56% of the millennials that were dissatisfied with the commitment to sustainability within the company also said that they would like to leave within 2 years. 37% of Gen Z’s have refused a job due to personal ethics. In short, this future workforce is unsatisfied with the current sustainability and environmental commitments of their employers. Or in the words of the former president of the United States, Barack Obama: ”This is the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.” There’s an opportunity for businesses to become a frontrunner for the new generations and exceed the environmental industry standards as they are.
Sumting provides an easy way to start investing in the environment, by building your planet portfolio and sharing it with your customers and your employees. Our platform connects businesses with dozens of trusted, vetted projects that make a tangible positive difference. Start making your impact today! sumting.org/projects And also check out the tips on creating a environmentally friendly workspace check out our website: 7 tips to create a greener workspace
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/10/31/employees-demand-that-we-become-more-sustainable/
Kathryn Dill, “Millennials Show Loyalty to Employers,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 19, 2020,
https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bse.1836
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1499/htm
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311975.2015.1030817
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580501000632?via%3Dihub#!
https://www.wespire.com/15-insights-gen-z-purpose-and-future-of-work/
https://businessleadershiptoday.com/how-important-sustainability-is-to-employees/
The global goal for nature is to be nature positive by 2030, with nature visibly and measurably on the path of recovery. The UN biodiversity convention set out 5 key areas for action.
Sumting was invited by BNR Zakendoen to talk about our platform and our mission to restore nature on Friday June 17th.
Studies show that workplace initiatives with a positive impact on the planet also positively affect employees and the business itself.