Costco: A Leader in Corporate Social Responsibility? - You see name tags reading “since 2002,” “1999” & “1995”. Those working the floor can make mid-$40,000 range & over 80% have competitively priced health insurance plans, resulting in more productive, satisfied workers & low turnover.

stfuconservatives:

abaldwin360:

Could Costco possibly be the most genuine leader when it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and governance? Retailers across the country constantly crow about the achievements they have made on a bevy of issues from more sustainable fish (Safeway) to solar installations (Walmart). Other retailers are yanking the chains on pork producers to cease the cruel use of gestation crates and of course just about everyone is on the organic and local produce bandwagon. These shifts in business practices are great news for fish, pigs and of course, the environment and our health.

But what about people who work in these stores, who stack, haul and crate the fish, pork and produce, whether they are free range, cruelty-free, duty free, or not?

While most big box retailers insist on paying low wages with the claim that thin margins require reduced labor costs, Costco for years has been breaking the mold. Wall Street squawks that the membership warehouse giant should push for higher profit margins and reduced labor costs, meanwhile the company, led by its iconoclastic founder and former CEO, Jim Sinegal, constantly flicks his chin at The Street and its yammering analysts. The results: happy employees, enviable stock performance and a brilliant shopping model that, let’s face it, bludgeons consumers into shopping happily for more.

So what makes Costco so successful? Arguably the biggest difference is how the retailer treats its workers. Walk into any Costco and look at the name tags. Chances are you will read the phrases “since 2002,” “since 1999” and “since 1995.” Costco workers get paid very well compared to their counterparts at chains including Walmart. In fact, employees working on the floor can make a salary that reaches the mid-$40,000 range; not bad for someone who starts working for the company out of high school. And while the vast majority of Costco’s employees are not unionized (most are legacy employees from Price Club that the Teamsters represent), over 80 percent have competitively priced health insurance plans. The outcome includes more productive workers, lower turnover and for what it’s worth, relatively high job satisfaction.

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Hey look at this. A successful company that doesn’t pay it’s workers paltry wages or skip out on healthcare benefits.

Almost makes one think that all that talk about company’s needing to shit on their employees to be competitive just might be bullshit. 

Wow. A company bucking Wall Street and paying attention to their workers — which in turn pays off as better service for their customers, which brings in more business. A sustainable business model that benefits everyone *except* Wall Street folks. I like it.

Costco is my happy place. I love this store. While other places may sell their products for slightly cheaper most of the year, I’ll gladly pay slightly more to keep people in jobs. Their staff are HAPPY and helpful. Never grumpy and evil. What I love even more they have staff who’ve moved country and been able to transfer their jobs without worry (My local branch in the UK has at least FIVE ex-pats working full time in branch.)

I love Costco. Long Live Costco.

(via stfuconservatives)

9 months ago  /  634 notes  /  Source: abaldwin360