Until recently, Google’s motto was “Don’t be evil”. It was a simple and highly impactful statement that was almost certainly a nod to the fact that large corporations have not always acted in the highest good of its workers or the communities in which they operate. Too often in the pursuit of profit, corporations have placed profits before all else: before the physical and financial well-being of their people, before the health of the planet, and even above lawful and ethical conduct.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has since changed the motto to “Do the right thing”, and if corporations the size of Google were indeed to commit to consistently doing the right thing on all fronts, this could have a tremendous impact on society and our environment.
Our Ethos at THEY
At THEY, even though we are not the size as Google, doing the right thing has always been more than a motto; it’s embedded in our DNA. From our inception, we have championed higher-than-average wages, flexible schedules, remote work options, and unwavering transparency. Our mission is clear: to do good business while doing good for our people and our planet. We might be a small company, but our dreams are big. We envision a world where profitability and purpose coexist harmoniously.
Why B-Corp?
This is why THEY are in the process of becoming a certified B-Corp. B-Corps are not just businesses; they are a movement towards redefining success. They reject the profit-at-any-cost model in favour of striking a balance between profit and purpose. These companies strive to implement responsible practices in all their operations with the goal of protecting people and the planet through ethical, sustainable conduct.
Becoming B-Corp-certified is no easy task. It demands adherence to the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Certified by the non-profit B Lab, B-Corps are assessed across five key stakeholder areas:workers, community, environment, governance, and customers.
Facing the hurdles
In a time of considerable market uncertainty, rising labour costs and continuing inflationary pressures in which many businesses are struggling to maintain the bottom line, why would we take on the challenge of B-Corp certification? Why take on all the extra work and incur the extra costs?
Because it's the right thing to do.
The criteria across these five areas are extremely stringent, requiring updates to the legal compliance, comprehensive policy changes and meticulous documentation. This entails a careful examination of all aspects of your operations and lots of strategising about how best to make these changes. This process is not without costs: in addition to the financial investments required to meet B-Corp standards, it also takes a significant expenditure of time and effort on behalf of the people involved, who must not only envision and execute the changes but must also document everything along the way.
The certification process also necessitates new standards of transparency and accountability, which in turn requires additional monitoring. Next comes the lengthy assessment process. If we receive certification, we’re not yet finished — in fact, the journey is only then truly beginning. Becoming a B-Corp is an ongoing process and a commitment to continuous improvement. And then come the re-assessments every three years…in short, it’s not so easy.
Looking ahead
While becoming a B-Corp is a challenging process, it aligns perfectly with our core values and and how we do business. Our commitment to ethical business practices, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability drives us forward. We are not just aiming for a certification; we are striving to build greater trust with all our stakeholders and contribute to a better world.
