Arguably, the Human Resources (HR) function is the key partner in embedding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability initiatives in any organisation, as this can be achieved only when a company educates, engages and empowers its entire workforce.

This book goes even further and proposes that the HR function has a responsibility to be proactive in leading the way in establishing a company-wide CSR-enabled culture. And, yet, this is not happening. HR managers are preoccupied with their traditional roles of organisational development, recruitment, training and compensation, and are failing to see the opportunities that CSR brings for them as professionals and for their organisations.

CSR for HR has been designed to change the game. It provides HR managers with a thorough understanding of the drivers and principles of CSR and a practical step-by-step guide to the way CSR interfaces with every HR function. Recruitment, compensation, training, employee communications, employee well-being, health & safety, employee rights, involvement in the community, and employee impacts on the environment are all discussed from the CSR–HR standpoint, with many clear examples showing how HR can leverage CSR strategies to deliver greater benefit for the business, for employees, for society, for the environment and, ultimately, for HR professionals themselves.

The HR function plays a critical role in embedding a values-based, strategic CSR mind-set and establishing an organisational culture that meets the needs of today’s stakeholders. HR professionals who understand this and adapt accordingly will reap the benefits. The book explains why, how and what to do next, offering detailed advice, tools, a roadmap to get started and hundreds of tips from companies around the world, including original content from HR managers of large corporations.

Written from the standpoint of an HR professional waking up to the strategic possibilities of incorporating CSR in her day-to-day role, the book has an easy and engaging style, ideal for the busy managerial reader. CSR for HR is both a wake-up call and a toolkit and will be essential reading for practitioners in both HR and CSR, as well as being a sought-after teaching resource for both executives and students.

Cohen does an outstanding job showing the connection between HR and CSR. She shows how HR practices in staffing, training, compensation, job design, and culture creation can be adapted to further CSR work within a company. Her ideas are fresh; her examples are relevant; and her writing is clear. This book will be useful to any company working to advance sustainability, philanthropy, or work/life policies as part of their CSR agenda.
Dave Ulrich, Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and Partner, The RBL Group

In CSR for HR, Elaine Cohen has described one of the true ‘secrets of success’ for leading companies in the 21st century. In a clear, compelling and engaging way, she outlines the tremendous role HR professionals can play to advance corporate social responsibility within their companies while enhancing recruiting, retention and engagement.
Dave Stangis, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Campbell Soup Company

When new or potential employees first connect to our HR departments, we have an opportunity to show them something of the company culture. As a company with a strong CSR commitment, it is important to emphasize how these principles are integrated into all aspects of our company. Elaine Cohen offers compelling ideas for how to make that happen, beginning in HR and radiating out to all functions of the business.
Eileen Fisher, Chief Creative Officer, Eileen Fisher, Inc.

In this book, Elaine Cohen provides the compelling evidence of the positive impacts the Human Resource function can have on an organization’s sustainability performance. More importantly, she provides insight into how the CSR-enlightened HR professional plays a key role in the promotion of organizational leadership and innovation, potentially leading to top-line business performance.
Jeffrey Hogue, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Danisco A/S

Finally a hands-on, informative and engaging book on the essential connection between HR and CSR! To quote a quote from the book itself – CSR without HR is PR – and with her typical storytelling flair Elaine proves this point beautifully. It is a call to action for the HR community to take on this agenda for the benefit of their own profession, their companies, and ultimately the planet.
Maria Sillanpää, Founding Director, Sustainability Advisory Group

This book gives HR and CSR professionals permission to be human. In fact, it goes so far as to suggest it might be integral to responsible business success. Get it, read it, share it!
Christine Arena, author of The High-Purpose Company

This book is a wonderful contribution to an important aspect of Corporate Responsibility. I am continually conscious of the need to apply CSR thinking first and foremost within our business, and the way we relate to our employees. Elaine has provided fascinating insights in a way which is easy to understand and reapply in all businesses.
Sybil Goldfiner, CEO, comme il faut

In my view, this book covers an innovative subject and provides a wide range of knowledge and practical examples which can apply in all businesses in all sectors. The book is written in an interesting and pragmatic style. It seems that the author has a good overall view of how businesses work and writes in a language that HR professionals can understand. This is a fascinating book which offers inspiration and a desire to progress the sustainability agenda.
Inbal Cinman, Corporate Responsibility Director, Ness Technologies Inc.

Introduction
Meet Arena Dardelle
Meet Sharon Black

Part I HR: A critical partner for CSR

1 HR meets CSR
2 The CSHR manager and the responsible workplace
3 Employee dialogue and engagement
4 Employee rights
5 Employee reward and recognition
6 Employee well-being, health and safety
7 Recruitment, diversity and inclusion
8 Employee training and development
9 Employee communications
10 Employee involvement in the community
11 Employees and the environment

Part II Embedding CSHR

12 The employee life-cycle
13 Employee impacts
14 Ethics
15 Leadership

Part III The CSHR infrastructure

16 HR stakeholders
17 The CSHR job description
18 The HR CSR roadmap
19 CSHR: A critical business partner

Appendix: Index of companies
Index