CEC Ten Comandments for Sustainable Corporate Management
1. Enterprises are one of the pillars of society
Enterprises are one of the pillars of a free, responsible and integrative society. They should thus contribute to the well being of the citizens.
2. The desire to make profit is essential
A company will only be successful in the long run and hence make its contribution to the well being of its community, its shareholders, its workforce, its customers and its suppliers, if it manages to produce a sufficient return.The desire to make profit is one of the prerequisites of economic success and social progress.
3. The company´s role is to promote progress
However, companies should also give an adequate contribution to the promotion of the social, economic and cultural development of the community in which they operate (municipality, state, community of states), by paying taxes and through public spending or other state or voluntary material or non-material services.
Multinational companies should contribute to the avoidance of conflict, the creation of peace and the development of international links between countries. However, they should in no way interfere politically in the internal politics of the country.
4. Environmental aspects
Companies must be managed in the awareness of the uniqueness of their natural environment and must support sustainable development.
When deciding upon the use of means of production, they shall be aware of the fact that natural resources - raw materials, air, water, energy - are not unlimited. Physical, chemical and biological pollution of the environment - especially the irreversible types of pollution - must in principle be avoided. If however such pollution happens, the effects should be analysed in a responsible manner and the consequences repaired in a proportionate way. In order to save natural resources, enterprises will have to optimise their profit-making and production processes and to develop their recycling capabilities.
5. The company´s responsibility in a larger sense
Similarly, companies should also feel equally responsible for the well being of their shareholders, their workers, their suppliers, their customers and other stakeholders like municipalities, consumers, employees and so forth. Shareholders are entitled to receive a fair return on the capital they have invested. Employees have the right to receive a fair remuneration including pension benefits from the company; they shall also be entitled to participate in the added value that the company has produced.
Suppliers and customers shall have a right to fair and reliable delivery and purchase conditions. Customers in particular deserve to receive quality products and services. Stakeholders have the right to see their efforts to improve the living environment and economic activities respected and even supported by the enterprises. The company shall subscribe to a strict policy against child-work.
6. Each company shall have as a prime purpose to keep developing itself
Each company shall have as a prime purpose to keep developing itself on an on-going basis - from technological, logistical, organizational, social and ethical points of view - and hence improve its activities.
7. The employees of a company are its most valuable assets
Being aware that skilled, innovative and motivated employees are the companies´ most valuable asset, managers shall dedicate their utmost attention to the human resource planning and development. The design of a professional career in the company for the staff is also essential to the personal development and the integration in the group. Managers should take care of the professional growth of their employees.
Enterprises shall promote the on-going training of their staff, in order to be able to increase their professional and social competencies in the enterprise and thus guarantee their access to social and technical progress. Neither gender, nor age - apart from the usual pension age - nor any other form of discrimination shall hamper the integration of employees into the company's work processes. Social responsibility of the enterprise also implies the acceptance of diversity and the promotion of an equal opportunity employment policy, including gender equality in terms of remuneration and promotion to managerial posts.
8. Safety on the job, hazard protection and avoidance of stress
Safety on the job, hazard protection and avoidance of stress must be priorities. Because of the duties they have in the area of social protection, enterprises must see to it that their employees are not permanently overworked for long periods of time. Reconciling professional life and family life is also an important issue for a company. In case the company interferes to a certain extent with the family situation of its workforce, e.g. in case of a transfer or a posting abroad, it shall also make sure to alleviate the burden of such a change for the family in question and, if necessary, it shall also take care of the material and emotional situation of the other family members, even if they are not employed by the company themselves.
The respect of private life of the employees and the objection to all forms of discrimination and bullying shall be a priority of the company.
9. Corporate restructuring
In case of changes in the corporate structure, the workforce shall be actively involved at the earliest possible stage, and in particular shall be effectively consulted and not merely informed. The more a company associates its workforce in decision making process, the more the employees shall be willing to accept changes and actively support the reengineering goals. In case of major corporate changes having serious influence on the workforce, enterprises shall demonstrate that loyalty is not just a buzzword, but that it is indeed a creed for their corporate policy.
10. Promotion of social involvement
Companies shall promote the civil and, more importantly, the social involvement of their employees and in particular of the managerial staff. Responsibility is not only expressed in the company; this is why the enterprise has to be able to set aside sufficient time for staff, including managerial staff, to reconcile professional and social involvement.
All the actions that might follow from adoption of this document are subject to the constraints of the law in each separate country.