Consumers are increasingly voting with their wallets, and savvy businessmen and women know they can do well by doing good. Big corporations are making a lot of noise about supporting social justice in initiatives, but small businesses can make a big difference at a grassroots level. Here are some things business owners and large corporations are doing to support social justice initiatives that are also trying to boost their business
Three ways your business can support Social Justice :
Making a commitment to social justice doesn’t have to be a lengthy or expensive process. Here are 3 ideas that can be adopted for a business model–starting right now.
1.) Rethink recruitment by identifying and removing barriers to success for minority employees. Actively recruiting at HBCUs and using a diverse panel for interviews are two approaches to take.
2.) Work with diverse suppliers by instituting a “code of conduct”. You cannot tell vendors how to run their business, but a standard can be set for their behavior.
3.) Support your employees who choose to organize or volunteer for social justice causes to take an extra PTO day to do so. You can also offer that extra day to anyone who needs a mental health break.
Spreading the word among other Businesses:
Just as consumers vote with their wallets when they decide where to shop, as a business owner you have a say in the companies you do business with. Ask your suppliers what their policies are that deal with social justice, and don’t hesitate to take your business elsewhere if their views don’t align with yours.
Many consumers will redouble their efforts to patronize minority-owned businesses during certain occasions like Black History Month or Juneteeth (which officially became a national holiday last year upon a bill signed by President Joseph Biden). Another way that black or minority-owned businesses can promote themselves is through an alliance., especially when there are a few black or minority-owned firms. Many organizations that support these businesses have gotten easy to find. For example, the Minority Business Development Agency provides information on loans and grants, as well as advice from business experts at local business centers.
Leave a Reply