Job applicants are increasingly selecting employers based on their climate change policies

According to First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH), job applicants are increasingly querying prospective employers about their company’s climate-change policies.

“The ability to hire the best also depends on them taking a stance that’s for the betterment of the world,” said Federico R. Lopez, chief executive officer at a virtual conference, Thursday.

Lopez said younger applicants seem to prefer firms that have clear positions on climate change or ongoing efforts that fight it.

Citing evidence from his industry counterparts, Mr. Lopez said companies have interviewed promising candidates that have asked about companies’ positions on environmental issues like coal mining and added that the candidates tend to seek other jobs if the interviewer fails to provide a suitable answer.

As these workers rise up the ranks, their advocacies will come to the fore, said Lopez.

“Imagine that kind of purchasing power putting its bulk behind the issue of climate change? That can change many, many things,” said Lopez.

The country should prepare for this new wave of employees and consumers, he added.

“If as a country we are not ready for that, we will not be part of the global supply chain as it moves forward. We will be left out and not only that, we will be left with stranded assets,” said Lopez.

While it may not be as fashionable or exciting as taking to the streets, I’d argue that this is a more effective, and certainly, more pragmatic form of activism that we can practice in our own lives. (You can even do it during quarantine!)

SOURCE: Business World