The Filth Columnist

I suppose that I feel pretty humbled by the fact that HR Circles has given me the chance to let off some of the steam that gets trapped in the pressure cooker that is my corporate blog.

The way I see the world is sometimes a little different to people around me and I'm sure that it will only be a matter of time before one of the businesses I've had a pop at on my law firm's website tries to clobber me with the might of their own legal team.

So let's poke a stick into the beehive that is corporate CSR and see what hornets come out to sting me. In my host's defence I'm a guest of this website. (Does this give me permission to really go for it? No - Ed).

Ah well - here's a toned down version with names removed to protect us all.

The first victim of the filth columnist (TFC's) pokey stick is a company who are trying to recruit a combined CSR/internal comms manager role. Fair enough, you may say, as CSR people spend much of their time engaging the internal audience and motivating people to live the business' values and do something positive.

However the human resources director running this recruitment campaign has been heard to comment that if they can't find someone with the hybrid skill set, they will simply go for the internal comms role and GET THIS, outsource the CSR part. To me that's the same as saying: "values, schmalues, who needs em?"

Is it really possible to outsource your ethical framework and then get a consultant to bolt on an off the shelf solution when the business starts to creak.? Shame on you Ms Name and Address Supplied.

But I've discovered that a lack of genuine commitment to CSR is not an uncommon practice. Indeed, you may be reading this now and want to ask yourself the question: "Do we pay lip service to CSR, or are we genuinely trying to do more than what is often a PR exercise?"

Another example of someone who needed a lip reader came up yesterday.

I was privileged to meet an inspirational and highly dedicated youth worker called Steve. He is combatting gang culture, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and deprivation in an area of one of our so-called regenerated cities. Despite working a 60 hour week at the youth centre and giving purpose to hundreds of young people who would otherwise be terrorising the new nearby gated yuppie developments, Steve gets an annual budget of just £190 from the council. His bill for internet access alone is ten times that - and he pays that to the same council!.

We talked about how he could engage more corporate supporters. I suggested that he tried his local law firm for help - either as cash, or just to get people physically down there to assist him in running his programme. He had only heard of the firm in question and had not met any of their people, so welcomed the contact details I passed on.

So imagine my surprise when later that afternoon, by coincidence, I was in a seminar listening to the managing partner from that same law firm, telling us how they were supporting that very same youth club. Sometimes there's a disconnect between good intentions and reality. Corporates need to start to deliver the promise.

So to conclude. Who needs CSR managers? We are fundamentally a pain in the bum. My old boss now calls me "JC" - not because of my belief that I can walk on water, or my ability to turn Fijian Water in whines, but in honour of Dumbo's insect friend.

CSR is the corporate conscience that every business needs. So if you're missing one of those people who spends their time promoting good deeds, while carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, I'm sure that my new found friends at HR Circles' sister website will be happy to find you one.

Viva TFC! Viva the stick! And equal rights for crickets.

If you have something you are concerned about and want to share it with the TFC, email natalie@hrcircles.com...... TFC promises not to reveal the full details!

Check in next Friday for more CSR revelations...