Posted on Thu, May 27, 2010 @ 12:36 PM
How Can HR Help a Company Go Green?
IntegrityHR has recently implemented many "green" business practices. This got me wondering what others were doing. I was talking to a group of fellow HR professionals over coffee the other day and the topic of "going green" came up. We all wanted to do our share to help our respective businesses cut energy costs, initiate recycling programs, and reduce waste. The question we all asked was how could we implement green initiatives without breaking the bank? I did a little research and found that HR folks can help their companies go green and save money while saving the environment!
By the way, did you know that going green can be a way to increase employee motivation? Many employees feel much better about where they work when they know their company is taking positive environmental steps, especially when they can be actively involved.
Here are some easy - and inexpensive - tips to make your workplace not only more environmentally friendly, but also more employee friendly.
Use Energy-Saving Techniques - Set thermostats on 70 degrees and keep them there all year long. Moving the thermostat up and down to accommodate hot and cold employees will only add to your energy costs. You can relax your dress code policy and encourage employees to bring a sweater for colder days as well as dress lighter in the warmer months. You can also do things like purchase only energy star-rated light bulbs, ask employees to turn off the lights in their offices if they will be gone for an extended period of time, and turn all equipment off at the power strip at the end of the day.
Use Less Paper - Ask employees to only print what is absolutely necessary and store files on their desktop. Create an intranet (internal file system) that only employees can view and store all employee handbooks, policies and important documents electronically. This will save on ink and paper costs and allow you to make updates more easily.
Use Reusable Office Supplies - If possible, refill printer ink cartridges (there are many services which will do this for you), which can cut the cost of ordering a new one in half. Order only refillable mechanical pencils and ink pens. In addition, purchase only recycled paper and envelopes.
Use Real Coffee Cups - Instead of buying paper, plastic or styrofoam coffee cups, plates and utensils, use dinnerware that can be washed and reused. Consider providing filtered drinking water to cut down on the waste of plastic water bottles. Use only recycled paper towels and napkins. Some companies provide employees with reusable lunch bags with the company logo on them to reduce the waste of paper lunch bags.
Use Incentives - Institute an incentive or bonus program for employees who carpool to work. You may also consider a contest for employees to come up with green initiatives for the workplace and award prizes to the winners. Make sure to implement their ideas - Check out this page for more about management using compensation incentives.
Every workplace can be a green workplace - or at least a little bit better than it is now. It just takes a little effort and creativity. What is your employer doing to reduce its impact on the environment? Leave us a comment below and tell us!
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