Companies That Go Green May Start Seeing Green

When it comes to “going green,” are we missing an important piece of the puzzle? That’s the concern Laura Vanderkam raised in yesterday’s USA Today about the growing number of businesses jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. While more companies are tweaking their products to appeal to an increasingly environmentally conscious consumer base, they should also focus on internal initiatives, like letting employees work from home or investing in energy-saving technology. Not only do these efforts reduce the strain on the environment, as USA Today’s Edward Iwata points out, but also – and perhaps more enticingly – they save companies money. Companies spend less on fuel and real estate while reducing turnover rates and increasing productivity by keeping their workers happy.

What’s more, attention to environmental issues can be a great bargaining tool recruiting new employees, a recurring topic of discussion at FORTUNE’s Brainstorm: Green conference last month. After all, with the Baby Boomers on the brink of retiring, environmentally aware “Millenials,” members of Generation Y, make up the next generation of workers, and more companies, like conference attendee Lehman Brothers, find implementing green initiatives to be a key factor in recruiting this age group.

What about you? What has the green movement meant to your business, and the way you recruit and retain employees who care about these issues? What steps – if any – is your own company taking to help the environment?

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on May 21, 2008
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• Categories: Employer Advice, Going Green