He is not the typical HR manager, he does not walk around barking into his phone, he is not seen in a group making loud complaints about the top management. There is a purpose to him that seems to radiate as he walks, unmindful of what the hot gossip in the department is, unmindful of what is cooking for lunch in the cafeteria – he seems to notice none, and none seem to notice him. He talks whenever he sees the need to, even then he uses short, crisp, to the point sentences, conveys his ideas, listens to others, and moves away without lingering too long to chit-chat. He comes across as a not so social person.
I learn that he takes care of the “Corporate Social Responsibility” cell. When I interact with him I realize that for him, there is something more important to take care than profits or targets. Something about his approach towards work makes me wonder if he is in the right decade. He does not believe in reports, he has no respect for power point presentations, and he has a disdain towards the power struggles that are on around him.
“For me the greatest recognition was to be given charge of the CSR cell, I was born and brought up here, and so I have an attachment to this place I cannot explain. Now through my work I am able to do something worthwhile, So that keeps me ticking”. Even in a organization that perhaps pays him half the salary that an equally qualified person would earn elsewhere, he seems to continue to give his best at all times. “Some of my batch mates are VPs”, he says, without sadness or disappointment, almost proudly.
“I speak up when things are wrong, it is my responsibility to see to that the CSR activities happen in spite of some people’s plans to eat into the budget” he says. I can imagine what it is like, to be the keeper of a corporate body’s conscious. “I have my bags packed, I am ready to be told to leave any day”. An organization in which he has worked for over 18 years might do that someday, he would not be surprised.
Is it worth it? to struggle to be right? In this day? Can it make someone truly happy, to not be successful but just to be right?
It is definitely worth it if you believe in it…. But this is a rare breed!! CSR is nowadays a way to improve business presence as it helps portray a responsible image and in the process helps gain mind space… In that, CSR ends up becoming a mere marketing gimmick rather than an honest urge to contribute to society. The only bright thing is that at least on this pretext, corporates end up giving something back to the society. And end justifies the means
Yes, agreed that CSR is being used as a strategic tool, but if organizations make it a point to hire someone really inspired about it rather than some corporate go getter, to be in charge of CSR, its fruits could be really sweet.