A clear majority of employers are encouraging recycling and energy reduction, but far fewer organisations are green in their approach to transport according to the latest quarterly CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook survey of 757 employers. This suggests that UK employers are having difficulty with the more difficult workplace challenges that need to be overcome to help fight climate change.
While 91% encourage recycling and 83% encourage reduction in energy consumption, only 45% encourage car-sharing while fewer still consider more imaginative ways of reducing the need to travel such as encourage their staff to work from home (30%). 70% of HR professionals admit that their organisation could do more to encourage employees to reduce the environmental impact of their travel arrangements.
Gerwyn Davies, co-author of the Labour Market Outlook report comments, ìUK workplaces are making a real contribution to the environment with quick and easy wins such as recycling and energy-saving schemes. However, there is potential for organisations to promote greener transport alternatives and work practices such as home-working to reduce the environmental impact of business travel. Where practical, this could reduce costs and stress levels for employees and improve productivity for the employer - offering a potential win-win situation.î
The report also suggests that the environment can be used as an important recruitment and retention tool; particularly for younger workers. 46% of employers say that potential recruits would prefer to join an organisation with a strong environmental policy, while 39% of employers claim that an environmental policy is more important to younger workers.
Davies continues, ìReputation and employer brand have risen to the forefront of the HR agenda. Employers recognise that to be attractive in the talent market place, they need to consider how potential employees will view their environmental and ethical record. Employers will therefore need to set an example on the environment to become an employer of choice.î
Mike Kelly, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPMG adds, ìIf you want to be a great place to work, then itís not just about base salary and benefits. People increasingly expect to work in a business which has embedded environmental management systems to effectively manage its environmental impacts and we are finding that it is an issue that is moving up the agenda, especially amongst the graduate community.î
The report also finds that 44% of UK organisations have an environmental policy in place, a figure which is set to rise to 70% in the next twelve months. Davies concludes, ìOur survey shows that the environment is growing in importance for HR professionals.î
Other key findings:
29% of organisations have changed their emergency planning procedures to take account of the impact of climate change.
64% of employees actively use the recycling facilities while at work. This compares to 59% of organisations who say that their employees are energy-conscious. 
70% of HR professionals admit that their organisation could do more to encourage employees to reduce the environmental impact of their travel arrangements. 56% say that there is potential to reduce business travel.
37% of UK organisations aim to achieve carbon-neutral status
37% of employers believe that senior management provides leadership and support on green issues
8% reward green behaviour with financial incentives/awards/green behaviour
CIPD study shows that the environmental performance of UK employers is mixed
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