A desire to enthuse staff and drive change via social and environmental schemes is a welcome trend in business. Employees and potential new hires cite corporate strategy in such areas as very important. But companies must be careful to choose the right course.

Consider two examples. Coca-Cola, BP and Kroll recently sent a mixture of marketing, environment and other middle managers on a trip to Antarctica, also attended by this publication. The aim was to create environmental leaders who would help transform their companies.

The reality was more, as the Guardian newspaper (also on the trip) put it, “a booze-cruise on ice”. The leadership and climate change training was indeed non-existent, but many participants, on a free holiday, eagerly bought into the sham to justify their time out of the office to colleagues.

Please login to view whole article - or subscribe here.
For a free two week trial to Ethical Corporation online, please click here.