People
All about social impact that really matters
People are at the heart of every organization. From employees who make a difference every day to communities affected by business activities. Social issues are no longer on the fringes of business operations, but determine whether organizations can be sustainably successful. From working conditions to human rights in the value chain, a thoughtful social strategy creates value for all stakeholders.
What do social issues mean for your organization?
Social issues are about how organizations treat people, both internally and externally. It touches on working conditions, diversity and inclusion, human rights in the value chain, data privacy and contribution to communities in which you operate. For organizations, it represents a fundamental shift from cost to investment, from risk to opportunity.
From attracting and retaining talent to building stakeholder trust. From preventing reputational damage to creating new market opportunities. Social themes are no longer an afterthought, but strategic factors that determine how successful organizations can be in the long run.
Working conditions and workers' rights
A safe and fair work environment is the foundation of any successful organization. From health and safety in the workplace to fair pay and development opportunities. This applies not only to in-house employees, but to the entire value chain.
Diversity, equality and inclusion
Diverse teams perform better, are more innovative and make better decisions. Organizations with more diversity and an inclusive culture are 33% more profitable. An inclusive culture attracts talent and increases employee satisfaction.
Human rights and supply chain responsibility
Careful investigation of human rights risks in the value chain is becoming increasingly important. The CSDDD commits organizations to active due diligence and addressing abuses.
Community impact and stakeholder engagement
Organizations are part of communities and have an impact on society. From local employment to community engagement, creating social value requires structural stakeholder engagement.
Consumers and end users
Consumers are increasingly aware and base their buying choices on companies’ social and environmental commitment. By being transparent and offering fair products, you build loyalty and a positive reputation. This not only minimizes risks, but also creates new market opportunities.
Why social issues are strategically important now
Legislation becomes more coercive
The CSRD requires extensive reporting on social performance. The CSDD goes further with mandatory due diligence along the value chain. Social compliance becomes an absolute requirement for large organizations.
Talent is getting scarcer
In a tight labor market, social factors make the difference. Employees choose organizations that share their values and offer development opportunities. Diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly important for talent.
Stakeholders demand transparency
Customers, investors and partners are increasingly demanding social accountability. Financiers are integrating social criteria into their decisions. Reputational risks can have major financial consequences.
Business case becomes stronger
Social investments deliver measurable returns. From productivity improvements to innovation, from risk reduction to new market opportunities. Forerunners create sustainable competitive advantage.
Practical steps to social impact
Step 1: Social materiality analysis
Start by identifying the most important social issues for your organization. What social risks and opportunities are material (important)? How does your organization affect people and how do social trends affect your operations?
Use stakeholder engagement to understand different perspectives. From employees to suppliers, local communities to customers, each perspective offers valuable insights.
Step 2: Optimize working conditions
Invest in workplace health and safety. From physical safety to mental well-being, ensure that all employees can work in a safe environment. This includes temporary employees and chain partners.
Evaluate pay and benefits. Are they fair and competitive? Do they offer development opportunities? Being a good employer starts with the basics.
Step 3: Strengthen diversity and inclusion
Develop inclusion policies that go beyond quotas. From hiring processes to leadership development, ensure that diversity permeates all levels of the organization.
Train managers in inclusive leadership. Diversity alone is not enough; people must also feel welcome and valued. Create a psychologically safe work environment where everyone can be themselves.
Step 4: Securing human rights
Conduct due diligence throughout the value chain. Identify risks related to child labor, slavery, discrimination and other human rights violations. Develop action plans to address risks.
Establish grievance mechanisms that are accessible to all stakeholders. Ensure that people can safely report abuses and that appropriate action is taken.
Step 5: Building community relationships
Invest structurally in the communities in which you operate. From local employment to education and training, contribute to social and economic development.
Involve local stakeholders in strategic decisions that affect them. Transparent communication and proactive engagement prevent conflict and build trust.
Social themes by sector
Temporary employment industry and labor market
For organizations like OTTO Work Force, fair working conditions and inclusion are core themes. From housing for international workers to development opportunities, social impact determines the difference between success and failure.
Manufacturing and supply chain
In manufacturing sectors, chain responsibility and working conditions are crucial. From supplier selection to audits, social due diligence is becoming an operational requirement.
Financial services
For financial organizations, inclusive products, data privacy and responsible investment are social priorities. ESG criteria are increasingly determining investment decisions.
Government and public sector
Government organizations such as CBS are exemplary in terms of diversity, inclusion and stakeholder engagement. Transparency and accountability are absolute requirements.
From policy to practice
Social KPIs and monitoring
Develop measurable indicators of social performance. From employee satisfaction to diversity rates, from safety incidents to community investment: make social impact visible and controllable.
Reporting and transparency
Integrate social themes into CSRD reporting and external communications. Be transparent about challenges and areas for improvement. Stakeholders value honesty over perfection.
Continuous improvement
Social impact is not an end goal but an ongoing process. Monitor developments, learn from stakeholder feedback and adjust strategies as needed. Invest in training and awareness within the organization.
Communicating sustainability to consumers: 8 strategies that really work
The challenge is great. 52% of consumers often find promises about a product’s sustainability implausible, according to research by MarketResponse, b-open and IVRM Reputation among a thousand Dutch
Without migrant workers, no production. But at what cost?
The Dutch economy runs on people, and increasingly, these are people from beyond our borders. From knowledge migrants from India or China to labor migrants from Poland, Ukraine
Customer story: OTTO Work Force makes impact with Empact “The CSRD is really a springboard”
OTTO Work Force is Europe’s largest international employment agency. From more than 50 offices in various countries, it connects more than 27,000 international workers with temporary employers. The
People connect everything
Social themes do not stand alone. They have many intersections with other ESG topics:
Environment – Climate change justice hits vulnerable groups hardest
Governance – Ethical leadership and transparency support social goals
Circular economy – Fair transitions and social impacts of materials policies
Climate – Climate justice and impact on workers and communities
An integrated approach maximizes impact and avoids conflicting interests.
From cost to value creation
The beauty of social issues: they force people to think. Organizations that take employees, communities and stakeholders seriously discover new opportunities. Better performance, more loyal customers, engaged employees.
Social themes are not an expense but an investment in sustainable success. A way to show that your organization is not only getting results, but doing it the right way.
Ready to turn social impact into strategic advantage? Empact helps organizations develop practical and effective social strategies. From initial materiality analysis to full implementation of social improvements.