Corporations are applying Corporate Social Responsibility programmes to show to society that they are more than a company that only cares about providing products or services that produce profits. They want to do contribute to society by improving life and helping the environment. However, many critics believe that some companies apply these programmes only to get good coverage in the press and having a better reputation, and they question their motives of their honest action to help society and the environment. They also question some business’s nature arguing that they will never be credible to the public eye about the application of CSR programme. For example, oil companies by nature will never help the environment or tobacco companies will affect people’s health.
It is important all corporations have a CSR but most importantly are the companies such as British American Tobacco, petrol BP and others implement CSR programmes and not as a distraction to unethical behaviour due to their core operations. I am not saying that all corporations will be ethical and socially responsible for having a CSR programmes. On the contrary, I am saying they need one and they have to implemented ethically and not only to get good press.
Therefore it is important that the PR practitioner in the corporation has the authority to change unethical practices of their company or client. At the end of the day the costumers and the community will know if a companies is doing good through their actions and not their promises.
Most companies announce in their webpage their CSR and if you are interested in a specific company you only have to Google it!
