Global consulting and technology giant Accenture has been named Australia’s top company for ‘giving back’ to society.
Organised annually by GoodCompany, the ‘Best Workplaces to Give Back’ award is a competition that showcases companies that provide the greatest contribution to pro social activities such as staff volunteering, workplace payroll giving, fundraising, sponsorship and matched donations.
For this year’s edition, over hundred companies across sectors were assessed, with leaders setting themselves apart thanks to policies including: a social giving strategy, at least two days paid volunteer leave for staff, and stated commitments to the UN SDG’s, Reconciliation Action Plans, Social Procurement Policies, and Diversity Programs.
Leading the list of Australia’s top givers are Mirvac, Origin Energy, Macquarie, Optus, and Accenture – which tops the ranking for the first time since its inception in 2018. In previous years, Accenture consistently ranked in the top five.
Commenting on the recognition, Scott Hahn, Director of Operations at Accenture A/NZ, said: “Our people care deeply about creating a positive impact in the communities we operate in. We offer many ways for our people to give back to the community and we know that these initiatives help us attract and retain the very best talent who care about making a difference in the world.”
Among the not for profits and community groups Accenture supports include the Australian Red Cross, Indigital, Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Out for Australia, Good Return, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and Solar Buddy.
For employees, the firm offers up to 3 days of paid volunteer leave and has a scheme that sees Accenture match donations made by teams and individuals.
Meanwhile, Accenture runs all kinds of social and innovation challenges for social enterprises as well as several internal campaigns to enable its people to participate in topics including inclusion and diversity, community and eco initiatives aligned to the company’s SDG objectives.
Commenting on Accenture’s pole position, GoodCompany CEO Ash Rosshandler said: “This year the competition to do good was tougher than ever. Accenture stands out in how it addresses the purposeful perks that workers want; the ability to contribute to the greater good!”
According to a recent study by employer platform Glassdoor, 73% of people wouldn’t even consider applying to a company unless its values align with their values, while 36% of people have left a job because they disagreed with a company's ethical standards.
Sourced from Consultancy.com.au