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Research Briefs

ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Strong corporate citizenship limits lawsuits

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms that invest in corporate citizenship effectively build a buffer that protects them from becoming targets of litigation.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Work-life programs increase leadership aspirations for both women and men

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms working to increase women in leadership should ensure they’re offering a number of work-life programs. Women and men are more likely to aspire to leadership positions when their companies offer these initiatives.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

For successful stakeholder engagement, respond to feedback

RESEARCH BRIEF - Organizations requesting stakeholder feedback must be prepared to be responsive to the input received. When the opportunity to provide feedback is met with responsiveness, stakeholders are more likely to comply with rules and regulations related to issues on which feedback was sought.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Media recognition of corporate citizenship increases firm value

RESEARCH BRIEF - Publicized corporate citizenship activities are associated positively with shareholder value and improved future operating performance. The effect is strongest when news coverage focuses on community, diversity, and employee relations-focused corporate citizenship activities, which are likely to generate tangible benefits for firms’ stakeholders.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

For successful behavior change campaigns, message early and often

RESEARCH BRIEF - Pro-environmental communications can be used to influence customer behavior, even when they say they do not recall having seen or been exposed to such communications. To make a long-term impact on customer behavior, companies should use ongoing and repeated environmental messaging.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

HR expertise at the board level leads to a more diverse and inclusive culture

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms are more diverse and inclusive when they are led by board members that have experience managing human resources activities.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Chief diversity officers: What makes a company more likely to have one?

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies are more likely to adopt a chief diversity officer (CDO) position if they have long-term oriented leadership, competitors with a CDO, are focused on innovation, and/or have a diverse employee base.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Want to increase employee volunteerism? Communicate both professional and societal benefits

RESEARCH BRIEF - Employees are driven to participate in employee volunteer activities both for professional advancement/career advancement opportunities and for altruistic reasons. While those with previous volunteer experience are most motivated by societal benefits, those who value career advancement are more willing to accept circumstances such as temporary pay cuts.

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social media CSR messaging

How CSR messages on social media drive consumer decision-making

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies, especially those who sell potentially controversial products, benefit from having a strong social media following and engaged followers. When a company has more followers and more positive comments on a corporate citizenship campaign, consumers perceive their message to be more legitimate and are more likely to buy their products.

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income inequality

Large companies have a role to play in reducing income inequality

RESEARCH BRIEF - Established firms have the ability to affect the income inequality by offering their workforce more equal wage structures, and many are likely to do so in part to avoid employee backlash resulting from wage comparison. As employees tend to compare themselves to others in their organization, particularly those who have similar roles, on such issues as pay; perceived inequality can have negative consequences for an organization, similar to those of disengaged workers.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Retain employees by investing in internal CSR efforts

RESEARCH BRIEF - With the estimated costs of employee turnover estimated to be up to five times the annual salary of the employee, reducing turnover is a significant opportunity for many companies.

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ResearchBrief_1483653945_144

Hiring a Head of CSR? Women and experienced CSR professionals have a greater positive financial impact on performance

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers examined how CSR leadership appointments impact corporate financial performance—specifically return on assets (ROA), sales over total assets (SOA), and sales growth—and whether gender and/or CSR experience affects this relationship.

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