XL MAGAZINE
November 2008
CSR: Executive Views

In today's turbulent economic times, and with a greater emphasis being placed on the role of a company in relationship to society and to the environment, should every company be involved with corporate social responsibility issues? For the large company that is a different question than it is for a small company.

You Community is Your Foundation
Many small companies feel that they don't have the time or the resources to make a meaningful contribution. Also, they view anything that has something to do with ‘charity' as expense going out and nothing coming back.

From our experience at Emtech Wellness we know that any company of any size can get involved in charity work and do their part to help change the world. Your community is the foundation of your business. Giving back can be rewarding for both your spirit and your community. Participating with charities does have a truly positive effect on the bottom line. The fact is, the more you give, the more you'll receive.

Giving back and being involved with charities has been a part of the operations of Emtech Wellness International Pte Ltd, from day one. At Emtech Wellness, charity helps define the firm and the people who work for it. Many people do charity work because it makes them feel good, which is good and should be encouraged. However, Emtech's Chairman, Roger Ng, gives back out of a strong personal belief that he is obligated as a business owner to give back to the community that helped make him successful. Roger recognises the roots of his success are dug deeply in the community that he lives and works in. He knows that he would have nothing without that community and so he feels the need, and the responsibility, to give back to that which made him strong.

A Diversified Approach
Emtech Wellness has a diversified approach to its community contributions. Firstly, the company provides our wellness devices to community clubs in Singapore to help with their elderly programmes. As a result thousands of people have discovered the secrets of good health and longevity with Emtech. It has improved the quality of their lives and it has also improved the quality of the lives of the people who work for Emtech as they feel they are part of a company that cares.

Although Emtech provided the machines with the motive of helping the elderly we have seen the benefit for the business side in that it has made more people aware of our products and resulted in increased sales. Often the best benefits of giving back to the community are those that you don't expect.

Unfortunately, some companies tend to affiliate charity with big money contributions and feel that it can be a burden to the company and because they lack the deep pockets of much larger companies they shy away from giving. However, getting involved in charity does not necessarily mean donating money all the time. Companies can do things that involve their time, effort, and talents. For example, assisting a local charity to raise funds for the needy through their events can make a positive difference to the community and yet doesn't cost you anything but your time.

Start Close to Home
Where do you start? Start close to home. Start with the things that interest you and start with your passion. If you have a talent that can be used by a charity or a non-profit, look for ways that you can contribute. Your personal involvement could be far more valuable to the organisation than a simple cash donation. Just as it is with businesses, the quality of the service that a charity provides begins with the people providing it.

Encourage your employees to be involved with charity because it will make them better employees. They will learn from the work they do, they will gain experience that they would not get from sitting night after night in front of the TV, they will expand their network and they will be happier, more satisfied people. All qualities that look good in the workplace.

Getting involved with a charity does not need to be a burden on your company. I am an entrepreneur and I am challenging business owners to give back in whatever way they can, however small their business may be, no matter how small the contribution. No one can expect to change the entire world by themselves, and no one expects you to, so simply do what you can.

Lighten the Load
Many small businesses recognise that in addition to promoting change and growth inside a company, encouraging employees to volunteer also enhances the company's visibility and reputation. If people in the community see your employees providing quality service to a charity they will realise that they are also providing the small quality of service for your business. You can enhance the reputation of your company through thoughtful participation in your community.

If you are a small enterprise, or want to be involved as an individual but don't know what to do, don't let that deter you from getting involved. There are people in your community who have been involved in charity work for a long time, they have a wealth of experience and knowledge. What they may not have are enough hands to do the needed work. Your hands can lighten their load.

I am not anywhere near as wealthy as tycoon Lee Ka Shing, but I'm also not starving. I'm just this little guy out there, but I feel in my own way that I need to do my part. I hope you feel the same way too!

Gibbson Tan is a merger and acquisition specialist and ex Executive Director of some listed companies. Currently he is Executive Director of Emtech Wellness International Pte Ltd.