University students in China who are considering future employers want
to know primarily whether companies make donations and play a part in
their communities, reports a new survey by AIESEC, the world’s largest
student organization.
Companies’ policies on environmental care, education, employees’ rights and training are next on the list.
The students interviewed were critical of PricewaterhouseCoopers and
KPMG over their life-work and health policies, and said they were not
impressed with Wal-Mart on labour issues. They were also unhappy with
Sinopec over its environmental record.
They were particularly interested to know whether employers gave money
to charities and allowed staff to volunteer for charities. After that,
they sought employers that formed partnerships with non-governmental
organizations, government and other bodies to help society. They then
preferred companies that did not trade in products that were harmful,
such as cigarettes or arms.
However, the survey indicated there was a general lack of knowledge
among the students, implying that companies are known for the positive
aspects of their activities. It also showed that students had a narrow
understanding of CSR, missing many issues that mark out responsible
business. Few, for example, appreciated that health and safety were
vital parts of CSR.
