A recent report by AimHi Earth reveals a significant disconnect between corporate sustainability strategies and employee understanding and engagement. Despite nearly all workers (93%) being unaware of how to apply their company’s sustainability strategy to their daily work, 77% are dissatisfied with their employers’ lack of climate action. Furthermore, 52% of employees believe their employers are likely engaging in greenwashing. 

AimHi Earth, a London-based climate and sustainability training organization, found that over half of the surveyed professionals feel they have only a surface-level knowledge of sustainability. This lack of understanding is coupled with a sense of ineffectiveness, as 70% of employees doubt their individual actions at work can impact emissions and environmental protection. 

Matthew Shribman, co-founder and Chief Scientist at AimHi Earth, stressed the urgency of comprehensive climate and sustainability training. He noted the rising demand for such training from progressive leaders who recognize that it is essential, not optional, in the face of accelerating climate and nature emergencies. 

Supporting this sentiment, recent research by hiring platform Indeed and the Net Positive Employee Barometer shows that a significant number of employees prioritize environmental impact in their careers. In fact, 55% of employees surveyed by Indeed value environmental impact more now than at the start of their careers, and 51% of respondents from the Net Positive Employee Barometer would consider resigning if their employers’ values misaligned with their own. 

Sue Husband, community impact director at Business in the Community, advises that sustainability should be embedded in every role within a company. She advocates for clear, jargon-free communication about sustainability goals and education on the importance of each employee’s role in achieving these goals. 

To bridge the gap between employee desire and corporate action, experts suggest developing measurable company-wide sustainability indicators and targets, and communicating performance transparently. Bobby Banerjee, professor of sustainability at Bayes Business School, recommends encouraging employees to measure their carbon footprint and linking performance bonuses to sustainability targets. 

Sources: 

https://sustainablebrands.com/read/organizational-change/employee-survey-crisis-workplace-climate-engagement 

https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/article-aimhi-earth-uncovers-crisis-workplace-climate-engagement