Kittens in the Workplace

08/01/18 | by Samantha Heath | Marketing

Early last month, our team welcomed a few very special guests into our office. However, staff members were surprised to find that these guest didn’t come with computer cases in hand… in fact, they didn’t have hands at all.
Kittens had crashed our lobby! Staff members rushed to see the furry visitors sleepily climb aboard their plush beds and squeak soft hellos. While we played, we spoke with the kittens caretakers from the San Diego Humane Society about their mission to provide care and find homes for these kittens and many others like them. When it was time for them to go, we made sure they left with a donation to help fund the care of animals at their shelter.
So, what made us want to let kittens climb all over our desks? Well, besides being completely adorable, we wanted to align our actions with our core values and give back to our local community.
kittens in workplace

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, describes a company’s choice to establish ethical business practices as well as consciously support causes that positively impact the world around us. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as going paperless, donating to charities, or participating in volunteer work.
For example, as a company that works closely with veterinary professionals, we connect with the values of the San Diego Humane society and want to bring awareness to their cause. It isn’t just the company itself that was invested in this program, it is our staff, too. At the event, our team members were happy to post live updates on social media encouraging their friends to adopt or foster animals in need and spread awareness about the surge of homeless animals at our local shelters.

Create Core Values

In order to implement CSR, you must first identify your core values. These statements describe what is important to your company and its employees. To get started, ask yourself the following questions:

What is your company’s overall goal?
What motivates you to do your best work?
What are three characteristics you would use to describe your company?
How can your business continuously improve over time?

This would be a great time to enlist in your staff for input. Are you a veterinary clinic whose mission is to provide exceptional and affordable care for animals? Would you describe your workplace as empathetic, energetic, and productive? Once you have your core values written out, consider how you can connect these principles to good deeds in your community.

Benefits of CSR

Not only does CSR benefit the locality you live in, but it can greatly boost morale and employee satisfaction at your practice. The younger generations increasingly value entities that take a stand on major issues, such as sustainability or human rights. By being an active participant in volunteer work or socially conscious business practices, you will attract more passionate and motivated employees.

Your clients will also be more likely to choose your practice over your competitor when they see that their patronage is, in part, going to a good cause. Understanding and relating to your mission will allow clients to connect with you on an emotional level.

To show potential clients what your purpose is and how you demonstrate this through CSR, begin by including your core values on your website. When you participate in CSR events, post photos and videos on your social media channels, blog, and business listings so that potential clients get a well-rounded view of your practice.