Workplace Trends: Are you ready for the future?

This is the sixth in a series of blog posts looking at workplace trends and how you can best position yourself for advancement. The trends have been identified by Catalyst Canada in their paper Workplace Trends: Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Successes. The full report is available for download by Catalyst members. Non-Catalyst members are able to view a description of the report only.

In order to prepare for your success you must have an understanding of what the future looks like in the workplace. Catalyst experts have identified six trends that will affect the workplace in the future.  Last week we looked at Overcoming Cultural Barriers. We will explore each of these trends and provide you with information you can use to plan your future advancement in the workplace.

Trend 6 - Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Gender Diversity

According to Wikipedia, Corporate social responsibility is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

Organizations are becoming more aware of their responsibilities as CSR accountability becomes more accepted globally. As this awareness evolves organizations will begin to look differently inside their own organizations and see a need to extend CSR to employees who may have been undervalued in the past. An increased value on CSR internally, as well as externally will become a competitive advantage for the recruitment and retention of future employees.

Where does this leave women working in this changing world? How do you set yourself up to be successful in this new global workplace?

• Watch for this shift to internal CSR accountability around employees and position yourself to take advantage of opportunities arising from this shift.
• If you are in a position of influence make sure that CSR reaches inside your organization as well as outside.
• As opportunities present themselves make the business case for gender diversity to ensure that there is a strong senior leadership commitment and understanding. CSR may be a powerful tool for helping the advancement of women in your workplace.

This ends the series on workplace trends. Please leave a comment and let me know if you found the information helpful for your own career planning.