Our Turn to Lead T-shirt design Earth Day 2015April 22, 2015 marks the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day. “More than 1 billion people in 192 countries will participate in Earth Day activities and events, making it the largest civic observance in the world. This Earth Day, EDN [Earth Day Network] calls upon citizens, educators, corporate leaders, governments and global organizations to take action under the banner, ‘It’s our turn to lead.’” 1

 

This year “could be the most exciting year in environmental history. The year in which economic growth and sustainability join hands. The year in which world leaders finally pass a binding climate change treaty. The year in which citizens and organizations divest from fossil fuels and put their money into renewable energy solutions.”2

 

“That’s why this year’s theme is “It’s Our Turn to Lead,” with a goal of promoting environmental awareness, developing sustainable initiatives and galvanizing every human to pledge Acts of Green.”3

 

Here are some ideas for engaging employees on Earth Day 2015.4

 

  1. Provide Learning Opportunities

Opportunities for development are frequently cited as lacking in employee engagement survey results. Today provides an opportunity to help employees learn about your organization’s sustainability goals and adopt green behaviors.”5

 Action: Discuss your company’s sustainability efforts by reviewing your CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) signature projects.

 

 

  1. Demonstrate Impact

Employee engagement is about helping people understand how they impact the company and its goals, as well as appreciate how the company impacts them. Employees with a sense of shared purpose are more engaged.

Action: Tie employee goals and objectives to the overall company goals and objectives.  Help employees understand how their actions impact on the company, its customers, and the environment.

 

 

  1. Inspire Action

It is not enough just to talk about your company’s CSR or other sustainability efforts. Engage your employees so that they will want to become involved. There are environmental footprint calculators that can help jumpstart the conversation: http://www.earthday.org/footprint-calculator

Action: As a group activity, dump out a nearby trashcan and see what items could have been recycled. Perhaps the group could create a plan to reduce, eliminate, or substitute a more sustainable option based on those items making up the bulk of the trash. For instance, plastic eating utensils could be replaced with an alternative version that is biodegradable or maybe employees could be encouraged to bring their own silverware from home.

 

 

  1. Give Recognition

Most employees welcome recognition and yet employee surveys show that they don’t get enough of it.

Action: Capitalize on Earth Day by formally recognizing individuals or groups for their environmental commitment. Perhaps you could recognize someone who is a recycling fanatic everyday not just on Earth Day or a group that has made a difference in making the company more sustainable. Perhaps you could focus on a program that is making a difference. Use today to recognize those efforts.

 

 

 

Remember, “It’s Our Turn To Lead.” I hope you’ll take the lead and use Earth Day 2015 as a springboard to a more environmentally aware and engaged workforce.

 

For more information on Earth Day 2015, visit http://www.earthday.org/.

 

 

What Earth Day-related employee engagement ideas do you have? What can you share about your company’s sustainability efforts with other Agents?

 

 

1 Earth Day Network Communications Department. “Earth Day 2015: Everything You Need to Know.” Earth Day Network. Earth Day Network, 8 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.earthday.org/press-release/earth-day-2015-everything-you-need-know>.
2 “Earth Day 2015.” Earth Day Network. Earth Day Network. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.earthday.org/earthday2015page2>.
3 Scott, Ryan. “‘It’s Our Turn To Lead’: How To Engage Your Team On Earth Day.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/causeintegration/2015/04/20/earth-to-man-sos-this-earth-day/>.
4 “5 Ways to Engage Employees on Earth Day.” 5 Ways to Engage Employees on Earth Day. Davis & Company, 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.davisandco.com/authored-articles/2011/02/02/5-ways-engage-employees-earth-day>.
5 ibid.

 

 

Let’s Engage!

I’m Agent in Engagement Simpson…Gregory F Simpson.

 

Employee engagement is a critical mission. I hope I can count on your help! Subscribe to the RSS Feed to receive the latest intelligence/insights and/or register to make entries in the comments log.

I'm Simpson....Gregory F Simpson, Agent in EngagementYou can follow me @agtinengagement.
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P.S.  First contact? Welcome to the Agent In Engagement community. Explore and join fellow employee engagement operatives in targeting a known thief – Alias: Disengagement. Together we can bring this thief to justice and make the world a better place for all companies and their employees.

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