1 TOOL TYPE CHECKLIST LAST REVIEWED 01/3/13 GEOGRAPHY ALL SOURCE: CSR GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST PRIMARY SOURCE Before you use this tool, you may want to read the further analysis presented here. BENEFITS The general public now expects companies to not only make good products and provide good services but also be good neighbours and generally socially responsible. And many companies are increasingly recognizing that effective management of environmental and social risks can improve the bottom line by optimizing operations and making them more competitive. So they re adopting corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks. HOW TO USE THE TOOL Canadian Business for Social Responsibility created a white paper, CSR Governance Guidelines (Guidelines), to help companies effectively manage environmental and social risks and opportunities. Use this checklist from the guidelines to identify gaps in current CSR performance and prioritize actions. OTHER RESOURCES: CSR Governance Guidelines
YES NO PARTIAL IN PROGRESS DON T KNOW RELEVANT? 2 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST ELEMENTS GUIDANCE ASSESSMENT COMMENTS NOTES 1. VISION AND STRATEGY Leading boards demonstrate their commitment to CSR and ensure it s incorporated into the company s vision and strategy. Have board and management agreed on & communicated an explicit commitment to CSR? Do board and management share a common definition of CSR as it relates to the company, its sector and broader societal trends? Has the board developed a common understanding of the company s business case for CSR? Have board and management developed a CSR vision for the company? Is CSR incorporated into the company s mission, vision and values? Does the company Code of Conduct/Ethics incorporate CSR? Is the board aware of CSR issues specific to the
3 2. OVERSIGHT & ACCOUNTABILITY Leading boards have accountability for CSR. 3. RISK IDENTIFICATION & MANAGEMENT industry? Are material CSR issues considered in the development of the company s business strategy? Are CSR goals incorporated into the company s business plan? Is there a committee(s) with responsibility for CSR, such as a CSR, audit or governance committee? Is there a designated CSR officer who reports to the board? Does the company have a boardapproved CSR policy, either standalone policy or incorporated into other policies? regularly review progress on the company s performance against CSR goals, objectives and targets? Is management's compensation linked to performance on CSR goals and targets? Is CSR included as a factor in CEO recruitment? Does the company s enterprise risk management
4 Leading boards integrate CSR risks into their management of enterprise risk. program consider material CSR risks? Are CSR impacts, issues and opportunities considered when approving major decisions, including mergers and divestitures? have a way to identify the CSR impacts of its decisions? review its own practices to reduce the social and environmental impacts of board meetings? receive unfiltered information on stakeholder issues and concerns related to CSR to inform risk management? Are measures in place for the board to assess the extent to which the company s CSR commitments are adhered to across the company and within its supply chain? Does the internal audit process include crosscompany compliance with CSR commitments?
5 4. BOARD COMPOSITION AND EXPERTISE Leading boards are equipped to provide oversight on material CSR issues. 5. EXTERNAL DISCLOSURE Leading boards regularly disclose information about the company s CSR performance. Does board composition reflect the cultural and gender diversity of the marketplace? Does the nominating committee include CSR skills, knowledge and experience as a factor in director recruitment? Does the nominating committee consider the alignment of company and individual CSR values in director recruitment? Does the new director orientation process include a review of the company s CSR commitments and goals? Is CSR education provided to directors as part of their ongoing development? Is CSR competency included in the board evaluation process? provide input into management's assessment of material CSR issues to include in the company's external reporting? review and approve external reporting of
CSR issues in compliance with mandatory disclosure requirements, such as MD&A, securities reporting, government filings? approve the CSR report as a record of the company s CSR performance for disclosure to stakeholders? Does the CSR report to stakeholders include a message from the Chair? 6