Employees’ recognition of corporate sustainability: a case study
ISSN: 1472-0701
Article publication date: 15 January 2018
Issue publication date: 23 January 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to ascertain whether a company with a solid reputation for corporate sustainability leadership deems its workforce to be as important as its external stakeholders when developing and communicating its sustainability activities, and to evaluate its workforce’s recognition of such activities.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve these aims, a case study of a leading Brazilian company was carried out. The authors conducted an interview with the corporate sustainability department and submitted a survey by questionnaire to its employees. The data were complemented by documentary analysis of the company’s annual reports, sustainability reports, corporate website, newsletters and press releases.
Findings
Results suggest that the company does attribute significant importance to its workforce and that its employees have sound knowledge of its sustainability practices and engage with them.
Research limitations/implications
Given that the research adopts a case study approach, the scope for generalisation is limited.
Originality/value
The present study explores a neglected aspect of extant research – the relations between corporate sustainability and human resources.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Duratex Sociedade Anonima and its sustainability department staff, without which the present study could not have been completed. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Duratex.
Citation
Pintão, S., Chaves, C. and Branco, M.C. (2020), "Employees’ recognition of corporate sustainability: a case study", Corporate Governance, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 104-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-01-2017-0016
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited