Nowadays, talent management is an important factor contributing to the success of a corporation, because this can drive the team spirit of staff, thereby enhancing the business operation of the company.

CSR to Retain Staff
How can companies boost team spirit of staff? Kwan Chuk Fai, General Manager of Corporate Communication, NWS Holdings Limited, says, “Our company organizes corporate social responsibility programmes. This can enhance staff cohesion and is a way to retain staff.”

Incorporating in their CSR concept is the support of fair trade. Recently, NWS Holdings has joined the Fair Trade Workplace Society, which aims at promoting the concept and practices of fair trade in the workplace. “CSR is part of our business operation philosophy, and therefore we joined the Fair Trade Workplace Society as a founding member without hesitation,” Kwan says. Founding members of this society agree that fair trade is in line with CSR, which is about companies achieving commercial successes in ways that honour ethical values and respect people, communities and the natural environment.

A Pledge to be Fair
Members of the society pledge to start shifting to fair trade products gradually. Likewise, NWS Holdings uses fair trade products in the office. “We want to bring the message to our staff that fair trade is part of CSR,” Kwan says. The company even organized a seminar to let staff learn the concept of fair trade, identify the products, and try some of the products. Kwan adds that it is a very worthwhile communication process to obtain staff buy-in.

After introducing fair trade products in the office, NWS Holdings conducted a survey to collect staff’s opinions on these products. “We want our staff to know that the quality of fair trade products is high, and that we are not using poor-quality products for a good cause.”

According to Kwan, using fair trade products involves higher costs. “It means an extra of HK$5,00 to $1,000 of expenses each month, and this is acceptable to our company.” He says that they may encourage subsidiary companies to use fair trade products later on. “We want to lead others to support fair trade in the workplace,” Kwan says.

To implement new policies, it may usually involve extra work. Kwan says that based on past experience, more work was needed only in the beginning. “After setting up the system to implement the policy, work afterwards would be lighter.”

Other CSR Activities
NWS Holdings has organized lots of CSR activities, such as a mentor programme for form six students in Hong Kong. This programme provided opportunities for students to gain experience in working at NWS Holdings. “Our colleagues shared working experience and knowledge with these students. That is something which cannot be learnt at schools.”

In addition, NWS Holdings established the NWS Holdings Charities Foundation Ltd in November 2006 to implant CSR in its corporate culture and enhance the quality of life for the community. NWS Holdings has a volunteer team, the “Volunteer Alliance”, regularly taking part in volunteer and charitable activities for the community. For instance, volunteer bus drivers from NWS Holdings have visited elderly homes to provide free haircut services for the elderly. In December 2006, NWS Holdings organized the Fairy Kiddo Land and some staff volunteered to teach children story-writing.

Such CSR activities have enriched the lives of staff working at NWS Holdings, and also given them a sense of pride working for the company.