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The latest quarterly CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook survey of 757 employers 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 per cent encourage recycling and 83 per cent encourage reduction in energy consumption, only 45 per cent 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 per cent).  Seventy per cent 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, “UK 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.” 

The report also suggests that the environment can be used as an important recruitment and retention tool; particularly for younger workers.  46 per cent of employers say that potential recruits would prefer to join an organisation with a strong environmental policy, while 39 per cent of employers claim that an environmental policy is more important to younger workers.

Davies continues, “Reputation 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.”

Mike Kelly, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPMG adds, “If you want to be a great place to work, then it’s 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.”

The report also finds that 44 per cent of UK organisations have an environmental policy in place, a figure which is set to rise to 70 per cent in the next twelve months. Davies concludes, “Our survey shows that the environment is growing in importance for HR professionals.”

Other key findings:

• 29 per cent of organisations have changed their emergency planning procedures to take account of the impact of climate change.
• 64 per cent of employees actively use the recycling facilities while at work. This compares to 59 per cent of organisations who say that their employees are energy-conscious.
• 70 per cent of HR professionals admit that their organisation could do more to encourage employees to reduce the environmental impact of their travel arrangements. 56 per cent say that there is potential to reduce business travel.
• 37 per cent of UK organisations aim to achieve carbon-neutral status.
• 37 per cent of employers believe that senior management provides leadership and support on green issues.
• 8 per cent reward green behaviour with financial incentives/awards/green behaviour.