Insights 31: "Using Corporate Social Responsibility to Motivate and Retain Female Employees"

 There is no doubt that the ability to attract, motivate, and retain a talented pool of employees is crucial to any company’s success. Representing about 50% of the total U.S. labor force, female employees are an important force driving not only firm performancebut also our national economy. Interestingly, findings from marketplace polls and academic research suggest that women place more importance on the role business needs to play in society when selecting their employers, and that women seek power and leadership in the workplace not so much for personal gains, but to make a difference and make the world a better place. Given the fact that corporate social responsibility (CSR) occupies a prominent place on the global corporate agenda in today’s socially conscious climate, we collaborated with Hewlett Packard to explore the effect of CSR on retaining and motivating female employees.