Aspectos que caracterizan a una empresa socialmente responsable

A continuación, se definen algunas características que evidencian una gestión socialmente responsable:
a. Transparencia: Consiste en la divulgación de informaciones, decisiones e intenciones en términos claros y accesibles para todos los públicos relacionados con la empresa.
b. Establecimiento de compromisos públicos: Al respecto, la empresa deberá asumir públicamente sus compromisos, bien sean éstos relativos a su público interno, o bien al futuro, al mantenimiento de los recursos naturales, a la promoción de la diversidad.
c. Interacción con instituciones que representan intereses variados: Se genera a partir de la creación de ámbitos de contacto y diálogo con organizaciones especialistas, procurando que las mismas colaboren con la empresa en el tratamiento y resolución de sus dilemas.
d. Capacidad de atraer y mantener talentos: Se define como la inversión de esfuerzos tendientes a erigir a la empresa como una alternativa que responde a los intereses de los ciudadanos, particularmente en sus aspiraciones profesionales.
e. Alto grado de motivación y adherencia de los colaboradores: En este sentido, se tratará de involucrar a todos los colaboradores internos y a los proveedores con la gestión de RSE de la empresa, demostrando coherencia en la suscripción y cumplimiento de sus compromisos.
f. Capacidad de lidiar con situaciones de conflicto: Esta característica se adquiere demostrando disposición para la investigación y el diálogo, desarrollando procesos que prevengan situaciones de riesgo, profundizando el contacto con redes de organizaciones y formadores de opinión y reflejando transparencia
en estas acciones y relaciones.
g. Establecimiento de metas a corto y a largo plazo: Incorpora de manera efectiva los diferentes aspectos de responsabilidad social en la gestión de la empresa, con todas las 10 características que poseen otros indicadores de performance.
h. Compromiso de la dirección de la empresa: Se fortalece la confiabilidad, comprobando claramente el entendimiento estratégico que posee la dirección de la empresa con respecto a las cuestiones de responsabilidad social. En general, la empresa tiene uno o más dedicados de modo permanente
a profundizar los aspectos relativos a la responsabilidad social.
Aun cuando la lista es más extensa, los puntos anteriormente mencionados están presentes en todas las empresas que están incorporando la RSE en sus gestiones. Tales características pueden estar bien claras y definidas o es posible que existan evidencias de que la empresa manifieste interés en desarrollarlas.

RSE x Filantropía / Accion social

La responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE), según el concepto adoptado por una serie de instituciones, tales como «Business for Social Responsibility» (BSR), «Corporate Social Responsibility» (CSR-Europe), Instituto Ethos de Empresas y Responsabilidad Social, «International Finance Corporation» (IFC), «Sustainability Institute, Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability» y otras diversas organizaciones para el desarrollo sustentable, es definida por la relación que la empresa establece con todos sus públicos (stakeholders), a corto y a largo plazo. Los públicos correspondientes, en contacto y afinidad con la empresa, comprenden innumerables organizaciones de interés civilsocial- ambiental, además de aquéllos usualmente reconocidos por los gestores –público interno, accionistas y consumidores/ clientes.

En esta medida, el número y los tipos de público que atañen a cada empresa deben ser analizados y definidos según el contexto en el cual dicha empresa actúa o quiere actuar y de acuerdo con su proyecto de futuro.

Para facilitar y generalizar el concepto, se organiza la RSE en siete tópicos a ser considerados:
a. Valores, transparencia y gobernabilidad
b. Público interno
c. Medio ambiente
d. Proveedores
e. Consumidores/clientes
f. Comunidad
g. Gobierno y sociedad

La RSE abarca temas que van, desde códigos de ética, prácticas de buena gobernabilidad corporativa, compromisos públicos asumidos por la empresa, gestión y prevención de riesgos, hasta mecanismos anticorrupción, diversidad, apoyo a las mujeres y a los no blancos, entre otros; contempla además la extensión de esos compromisos por toda la cadena productiva involucrada en la relación con los proveedores.

Los vínculos y los proyectos con la comunidad o las «mejoras» para el público interno constituyen solamente un capítulo –fundamental y estratégico– por el cual transita la RSE.

En este punto puede establecerse claramente la diferencia entre RSE y filantropía/acción social/ciudadanía corporativa, cuyo foco está determinado por los proyectos dirigidos hacia la comunidad en general y algunas veces por las iniciativas orientadas hacia el público interno. Ésta es la primera distinción que un periodista debe estar en capacidad de percibir. Las acciones sociales de una empresa sólo pueden ser consideradas

RSE si forman parte de un conjunto de iniciativas que aborde todos los aspectos arriba mencionados, y detallados en los indicadores Ethos de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial.

ETHICAL ISSUES TABLE

	YES	PAGE
Research on Human embryo/foetus
Does the proposed research involve Human Embryos?
Does the proposed research involve Human Foetal Tissue / Cells?
Does the proposed research involve Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs)?
Does the proposed research on human Embryonic Stem Cells involve cells in culture?
Does the proposed research on human Embryonic Stem Cells involve the derivation of cells from Embryos?
Research on Humans
Does the proposed research involve children?
Does the proposed research involve patients?
Does the proposed research involve persons not able to give consent?
Does the proposed research involve adult healthy volunteers?
Does the proposed research involve Human Genetic Material?
Does the proposed research involve Human biological samples?
Does the proposed research involve Human data collection?
Privacy
Does the proposed research involve processing of genetic information or personal data (eg. health, sexual lifestyle, ethnicity, political opinion, religious or philosophical conviction)
Does the proposed research involve tracking the location or observation of people?
I CONFIRM THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE ISSUES APPLY TO MY PROPOSAL	X
Research on Animals
Does the proposed research involve research on animals?
Are those animals transgenic small laboratory animals?
Are those animals transgenic farm animals?
Are those animals non-human primates?
Are those animals cloned farm animals?
I CONFIRM THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE ISSUES APPLY TO MY PROPOSAL	X
Research Involving Developing Countries
Does the proposed research involve the use of local resources (genetic, animal, plant etc)?
Is the proposed research of benefit to local communities (e.g. capacity building, access to healthcare, education, etc)?
I CONFIRM THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE ISSUES APPLY TO MY PROPOSAL	X
Dual Use
Research having direct military use
Research having the potential for terrorist abuse
I CONFIRM THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE ISSUES APPLY TO MY PROPOSAL	X

Gender issues

Gender mainstreaming is defined by the EU Commission as ”the integration of the gender perspective into every stage of policy processes – design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation – with a view to promoting equality between women and men”,

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/gender_equality/gender_mainstreaming/general_overview_en.html.

The consortium notes that gender is not equal to biological sex. It relates to social and cultural practices, both within science and in society in general, which result in unequal distributions of opportunities, responsibilities, mental and material control of resources. Gender issues therefore go beyond counting the number of women, they also relate to research topics and structures. By using this larger understanding of gender the project will, when selecting stakeholders and DG employees to participate in the workshops and the conference, take into consideration the gender issue.

The proposed support action aims to fully emphazise the engagement of stakeholders for future policy development with regard to the international climate policy regime, to ensure a true co-production of knowledge, build competence/capacities and to secure take-up in the international climate policy process. 

Involvement of partners from developing countries

For the proposed support action it is essential to involve partners from developing countries, as the overriding goal is to initiate a constructive dialogue among stakeholders in developing countries, and between stakeholders from developing countries and from the EU to develop promising policy options all relevant involved stakeholders can agree with. This dialogue will be based on knowledge-sharing, and on the will to understand different culture-based views, as well as to find mutual consent.

The partners from developing countries are equal partners in the consortium. The share of budget for each partner is based on a set amount of person-months, connected with each partners’ individual financial rates.

A mutual consent of the proposed support action’s aim by the project partners from the EU and the developing countries is given, as the partners are all active participants in international climate policy negotiations and know each other personally, as project-internal workshops will be held, and as there will be constant e-mail correspondence. The interest in the subject is high for each partner, be it from the EU or from developing countries. Additionally, the proposed support action will provide benefits for the EU and the emerging countries as well.   

Ethical Issues

The proposed support action does not raise sensitive ethical questions. No national or international regulations have to be taken into consideration. It does not affect human health or integrity of personality. It makes no use of animals or biological samples. It has no relation to genetic information or reproductive medicine. It has no military applications. It does not make use of radioactive or toxic substances.

The proposed support action does not include the implementation of project results as policy. It remains on the level of providing policy options and possible pathways of implementation. Therefore, there are no ethical issues related to implementation of project results. If, in some cases, meetings are recorded on tape, participants will be asked for consent to do so, and no participant will be quoted without asking permission and names will not be used to safeguard the privacy of the participants.

The consortium realises that the proposed support action rests on the support of the inhabitants of the EU and of the partner countries, and that providing information and opportunities for ongoing public discourse of relevant issues is vital. The proposed support action will therefore devote a considerable fraction of its budget to the involvement of the EU Commission and stakeholders of the EU and partner countries, and it will also communicate its performance and results to the wider public. User-friendly versions of best available communication technology will be used, particularly through the internet and target group-oriented publications. Opportunities for interaction through workshops in several countries and through international conferences will be created (see work programme).

COP Side Events

Another key means to disseminate the project results to international climate policy makers and stakeholders will be side events at the annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the UNFCCC. The COP is the highest decision-making body of the international climate regime and each year reunites thousands of negotiators, experts and stakeholders on climate policy. Accredited observer organisations may organise “side events” to present and discuss their work with other COP participants. The project proposes to organise side events related to the project at the COPs in 2011, 2012 and 2013.