Engaging Employees

Collectively the legal sector in England and Wales employs around 150,000 people. Therefore, engaging employees in climate change activities is a key way for firms to reduce their carbon emissions.

Likewise, firms are increasingly experiencing upward pressure from their employees to take action on climate change. Young people are frequently asking potential employers about their environmental policies. According to research carried out in April 2007 by the Carbon Trust, more than three-quarters of UK employees now consider it important to work for an organisation that has an active policy to reduce its carbon emissions.

Therefore, as well as being a key way of supporting firm-wide carbon reduction targets, there are a number of benefits of mobilising employees on climate change, including cost savings, increased staff morale and improved recruitment and retention.

Ways of engaging employees include running awareness-raising campaigns, identifying “green champions” and providing incentives. For more ideas visit the Energy Saving Trust, Global Action Plan and Green Thing.

A number of firms have found innovative ways to engage their employees. Read about how Wragge & Co has engaged its employees on its environmental priorities , how Andrew Jackson’s Green Team are trying to change the firm’s working practices and see how Linklaters engaged their global offices on World Environmental Day.

We would like to hear about innovative ways you have engaged employees. Share your ideas by submitting a case study.