Ben and Jerry - Blair McPherson

“Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value.” Joe Biden Former US President
 

Everyone likes ice cream. So what better product for a couple of hippies to make in their kitchen and sell to friends and family. Who could have predicted that from such modest beginnings it would grow into a multi million dollar business. As the business grew Ben and Jerry were determined to stay true to their hippy ideals that is their concern for the environment, social justice and equality. They were frequently referred to as a case example of how a business could be environmentally friendly, socially responsible and profitable. When they decided to step back they sold the business to a multinational corporation but stipulated that this was on condition the business remained true to its original values. Time has past and circumstances have led the board of the parent company to making decisions which in essence put profit above moral values justifying this by saying they have a responsibility to share holders. 

 

Is this proof of what the cynics have always claimed that corporate social responsibility statements are  just window dressing, some image massaging to make big business more acceptable to those  concerned about climate crisis, extreme inequality and discrimination in all its forms? Or can being a model employer and an organisation concerned with sustainability with a commitment to EDI make you more competitive. Since attracting and retaining talent is one of the key predictors of success then it makes good  business sense to have values in tune with those you wish to recruit. However if the rhetoric doesn’t match the practice then the damage can be significant. Remember  Volkswagen and the clean diesel scandal -ethics was one of the organisations core corporate values!

 

So how do we know if an organisations corporate values statement is for real or just window dressing? We could start as President Biden suggests not by looking at the glossy business brochures but by looking at the budget -How an organisation makes and spends money tells us a lot about their priorities and real values. 

 

Blair McPherson former Director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk