How Irish Businesses Are Embedding Sustainability Into Their Hiring Strategy

Sustainability is more than just a buzz word, it’s a philosophy that young professionals are incorporating into every aspect of their lives. From seeking out sustainable options when shopping to considering the sustainability profiles of companies they are considering applying to work for, their lives are heavily influenced by consideration for the planet and the people who inhabit it.  

Job seekers today are prioritising companies with strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies, and are more likely to apply to organisations that are committed to sustainability. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in hiring strategy and we’ll take a look at what this means in real terms. 

What Is Sustainable Recruitment? 

Corporate sustainability has been in the spotlight in recent years, since it became clear that many standard practices such as commuting for work, prolific printing and promotional merchandising have been used at the cost of the environment for many years. To counter this, there has been a large movement towards more sustainable practices that incorporate social equality programmes and inclusion.  

There are many opportunities to challenge the status quo and businesses in Ireland are leading the way with changes to their policies that include sustainable recruitment. This means identifying areas in which existing practice can be made more sustainable, both for the environment and on a human level, and working with other organisations to inspire and drive change on a wider scale. 

Here’s how Irish Businesses are Recruiting Sustainably: 

Businesses in Ireland are uniquely placed as industry leaders since there is such a thriving job market in Ireland and so many opportunities to work with multinational organisations. This, combined with the dynamic atmosphere and beautiful geographical setting, creates the perfect basis for the development of sustainable recruitment.

Irish businesses are: 

• Promoting inclusion and diversity. An organisation that is committed to positive hiring practices will create a company culture that is inspiring to others and improves sustainability across the board. Ensuring diverse hiring panels and using an interview process that does not discriminate against any candidate on the basis of background, race, gender or disability is crucial in a sustainable hiring environment.

• Offering ethical employment packages. Of course, fair compensation for work is a key factor in sustainable hiring policies, and this includes other benefits such as holiday and sick pay and flexible working arrangements as well as simply offering a fair wage. This practice will ensure that good quality candidates are attracted to your organisation, and will also create an environment of trust in which employees feel valued.

• Embracing flexible working models. Companies that will consider or even suggest flexible working patterns such as remote and hybrid working open themselves up to benefit from significant environmental savings in terms of overheads, physical office space and the environmental costs of commuting. Different ways of working can revolutionise the way a business works and lower the carbon footprint of individual employees and the business as a whole, and this is extremely attractive to prospective employees.

• Transparent in the hiring process. A comprehensive and honest approach will appeal to the best candidates and ensure you build a working environment in which everyone is well supported, and it will also promote your brand reputation and ensure your business is a beacon to others. Constructive feedback for all candidates, even those unsuccessful in their applications, can help to raise standards and improve the expectations of your team. 

• Seeking sustainability expertise. Embracing sustainability in the recruitment process means creating opportunities to hire experts in sustainability itself. Professionals with experience in fields such as renewable energy and conservation are highly sought after across all industries and businesses are keen to invest in working with those who can push forward positive changes and drive more sustainable practices.  

Of course, sustainability does not stop with the hiring process and creating a sustainable working environment is key to staff retention and a positive workplace culture. A sustainable hiring policy that focuses on long-term compatibility with roles can improve employee satisfaction and longevity and providing good support throughout your organisation can optimise productivity and positive feeling amongst your team.  

Recruitment Experts In Ireland 

Working with a Recruitment Agency such as CareerWise means optimising your recruitment process and finding the best of local and international talent to join your organisation. Our experienced recruiters will get to know your business and build the connections that will take your business forward. 

We are based in in Cork, Shannon, Galway, Mayo and Dublin and we specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma and Operations industries in Ireland. You can contact our experienced team online now or give us a call on +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation. 

Louise Mulligan

(Senior Recruitment Consultant) BBS CIPD – Mayo Office

Louise has a Marketing Degree from Limerick Institute of Technology. She has also completed a Certificate in Personnel Practice from the National College of Ireland. She is also CIPD accredited. She has 16 years Recruitment experience with Collins McNicholas (Dublin, Galway & Athlone), HRM (Dublin), Lionbridge (Mayo) and Team Horizon (Mayo & Dublin).

She has also worked in Quality Assurance in Allergan (Mayo) & with Ballina Beverages (Mayo).

She has successful recruitment experience involving key roles within Human Resources, Engineering, Quality Assurance and Planning for large multinational companies. She was involved in recruiting all levels including Senior Management for the Medical Devices, Electronic, Pharmaceutical & Manufacturing Industries both on the contracting and permanent side of the business. She has developed a Strong Network of Engineers built up over the last 16 years as she worked in the Mayo, Sligo, Dublin, Athlone and Galway Markets.

Louise has joined CareerWise in March 2017 with the responsibility of growing the business out of the new Mayo office with a primary focus on the West & North-West regions.

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