Getting The Boss To Go Green At Work
Dear EarthTalk: Any ideas for how I can push my employer to act more responsibly regarding climate and the environment without jeopardizing my job?
—Rich B., Pittsburgh, PA
Whether through teaching by example or encouraging company-level policy change, employees have the power to influence their workplace’s actions. According to the Employee Climate Action Network (ECAN), 80 percent of employees want their jobs to address climate change, and 59 percent of business leaders say employee action has led them to increase sustainability in their offices. Ultimately, employee action is a successful method of making a company eco-friendlier.
One way an employee can make their office greener is through simple but impactful habits. Employees can save energy on site by turning off lights when not in use, turning down heating and cooling and minimizing the power used by electronics. Other office-based sustainable practices include setting up recycling or compost bins, car-pooling to work with peers, or developing a “Green Team” with like-minded coworkers that can help their companies implement a range of eco-friendly policy plans. Toyota and Mayfield Environmental Engineering have successfully integrated an Environmental Management System (EMS) into their companies, which allows them to set tangible goals and monitor progress.
For employees wanting to bring environmental policies or practices to their bosses’ attention, there are many organizations that provide detailed resources on such a process. Work for Climate is a non-profit organization that focuses on company sustainability through employee-led action. Founder Lucy Piper notes how “for a really long time, employees have been an untapped stakeholder group in that wheel of influence that can get corporate CEOs and boards to make different decisions.”
Work for Climate consolidated with a few other environmental organizations to form Environmental Consultants & Affiliates Network (ECAN), dedicated to changing companies’ environmental awareness through the employee efforts. ECAN provides workers with information that best fits their circumstances.
They have different step-by-step resources available for individuals suited to their comfort level and familiarity with climate action. “We had one engineer who was working with us, and he was able to successfully shift his very conservative engineering firm to 100 percent renewable energy,” says Piper.
CONTACTS
- The Employee Climate Action Network
- Climate solutions can start at your desk
- Ways to Encourage Environmental Responsibility in the Workplace
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.