Dear EarthTalk: Any ideas for how I can push my employer to act more responsibly regarding climate and the environment without jeopardizing my job?
-- Rich B., Pittsburgh
Answer: Whether through teaching by example or encouraging company-level policy change, employees have the power to influence their workplace’s actions. According to the Employee Climate Action Network (ECAN), 80% of employees want their jobs to address climate change, and 59% of business leaders say employee action has led them to increase sustainability in their offices. Ultimately, employee action is a successful method of making a company eco-friendlier.
One way an employee can make their office greener is through simple but impactful habits. Employees can save energy on site by turning off lights when not in use, turning down heating and cooling and minimizing the power used by electronics. Other office-based sustainable practices include setting up recycling or compost bins, car-pooling to work with peers, or developing a “green team” with like-minded coworkers that can help their companies implement a range of eco-friendly policy plans.
For employees wanting to bring environmental policies or practices to their bosses’ attention, there are many organizations that provide detailed resources on such a process. Work for Climate is a non-profit organization that focuses on company sustainability through employee-led action. Founder Lucy Piper notes how “for a really long time, employees have been an untapped stakeholder group in that wheel of influence that can get corporate CEOs and boards to make different decisions.”
Work for Climate consolidated with a few other environmental organizations to form Environmental Consultants & Affiliates Network (ECAN), dedicated to changing companies’ environmental awareness through employee efforts. ECAN provides workers with information that best fits their circumstances.
They have different step-by-step resources available for individuals suited to their comfort level and familiarity with climate action. “We had one engineer who was working with us, and he was able to successfully shift his very conservative engineering firm to 100% renewable energy,” says Piper.
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EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk.