Socially responsible activities
All organisations, no matter how large or small, sector or trade, will be able to deliver some socially responsible activities.
As a guide, it is suggested that:
- Small organisations (1-10 employees) should proactively undertake a minimum of three activities, with at least one benefitting the employee and one benefitting the local community
- Medium sized organisations (11-49 employees) should proactively undertake a minimum of five activities, with at least two benefitting the employee and two benefitting the local community
- Large organisations (50+ employees) should proactively undertake a minimum of ten activities, with at least five benefitting the employee and five benefitting the local community
Below are some examples of activities that benefits your employees and the local community.
Activities that benefit the local community
Environment
- Signing up to the Low Carbon Lincoln Charter
- Reducing travel/air miles
- Green space sponsorship
- Reducing food waste
- Commitment to plastic free initiatives and reduction in single use plastics
Community
- Fundraising for local charities (for example dress down days/sponsored activities)
- Sponsorship of local events/groups (financially)
- Participation in World Hello Day
- Food Bank collection/donation
- Redistributing Food surpluses
- Local recruitment
- Contribute to a Lincoln Community Chest or other charitable fund
Skills
- Work experience placements
- Apprenticeships
- Places for charities/community groups on workplace training
- Sharing on the job skills in an educational setting
- Taking part in the 'Give an Hour' initiative (managed by Greater Lincolnshire LEP)
Resources
- Offer of free meeting space/space for community group/charity meetings
- Donation of surplus resources (for example furniture and stationery)
- Offer of spare car parking for local charities/groups
- Use services of local businesses/local products
- Promotion and/or use of Fairtrade products
Health
- Blood & Organ Donation promotion to employees and service users
- Dementia Friendly accreditation
- Concessions (for example for students, older people, veterans, disabled people and the unemployed)
- Active policies for healthy food
Activities that benefit employees
Terms and conditions
- Time off for medical appointments
- Consideration of flexible working requests beyond the statutory requirement
- Holiday purchase scheme
- Fair pay (real Living Wage)
- Additional paternity leave (paid and unpaid) in addition to statutory entitlement
- Opportunity to take career breaks
- Travel to work benefits (for all employees)
- Encouragement of healthy eating
- Staff recognition scheme
- Provision of paid compassionate leave
- Disability Confident accreditation
Opportunities
- Training and development (in addition to statutory training and development)
- Employee volunteering (within work time)
- Mentoring
- Work shadowing
Health
- Occupational health service
- Support for mental wellbeing
- Health insurance package
- Implementation of a no smoking policy which includes external areas
- Providing ‘stop smoking’ support
- Promotion of healthy living - for example walk/cycle to work incentives including travel plans and advice on healthy eating
- Signing up to the Employers for Carers initiative