April 22nd is Earth Day, so this question might come to mind as you plan any related events. The planet and our workforce are obviously interconnected, but celebrations like Earth Day challenge employers to dig a little deeper to determine how people management and planet management align.

The theme for this Earth Day is #InvestInOurPlanet, according to the organization heading up the celebration. It’s a helpful theme for employers, because it prompts a compelling parallel: Invest in our planet, invest in our people.

Investing in people is the business of all employers, no matter the industry. This Earth Day, consider how your work to better planet Earth can further your efforts to better the people you employ.

Your people care — and they care that you care

Emerging data has an important message for employers: Workers notice what you value.

A 2021 survey published by the IBM Institute for Value found that 71% of employees and job seekers said environmentally sustainable companies were more attractive than other companies. What’s more, some two-thirds of respondents said they were more likely to apply to and accept jobs at environmentally and socially responsible organizations.

These numbers call employers to care about the world around them. It’s not just the right thing to do — it’s good business practice.

Matching outward efforts with inward progress

When employers engage with social and environmental issues, they need to match their outward efforts with an inner commitment to their employees. Otherwise, their commitments appear hollow, especially to their workers.

So this Earth Day — whether your organization embarks on a tree-planting day or makes a million-dollar commitment to the World Wide Fund for Nature — it’s important to consider not only how you’re investing in the planet, but how you’re investing in your people.

For example: Do you consider your candidates’ strengths as much as their resume? Do you understand your reports’ strengths and divide work accordingly? Have you taken time to identify your team’s goals and chart a path to their success?

Whatever your approach, it needs to be highly personal and deeply customizable. To find out how PeopleBest can serve your team, book a demo and set up a time to chat with one of our specialists.

PeopleBest is a revolutionary, simple and powerful way to capture the exact ‘DNA of success’ inside people, teams and companies