Has CSR had its day?

Someone told me the other day that corporate social responsibility doesn’t matter now. There’s a recession on, the argument went, so all anyone cares about is price, price, price. I’m not so sure.

General Motors is bankrupt and people are talking about how the company kept on making cars with terrible fuel economy. Sure, this is largely because of the economy and people wanting to reduce their fuel bills, but the environmental factor is there too.

Members of Parliament here in the UK are being attacked for their expenses claims, just as ‘fat cat’ company directors were being exposed a while ago.

There has also been public outcry about how the makers of the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ TV show allegedly exploited a vulnerable individual to boost ratings.

CSR a thing of the past? I don’t think so.