Employees Prioritize Firms’ Environmental Practices

Some 36 percent of employees consider a company’s environmental practices when seeking employment, and about one-quarter of respondents said they would refuse a job if they disagreed with the organization’s sustainable impact, according to TD Bank’s Environmental Attitudes Survey.

Millennials in particular (age 18-34) were significantly more likely to evaluate an organization’s environmental impact — 49 percent — and 28 percent say they would refuse a job based on environmental practices. Fifty-five percent of Millennials surveyed also said it is very important that their current employer work to improve its environmental impact.

The nationwide TD Bank survey polled more than 2,200 employed consumers of all ages about their environmental behaviors, preferences and expectations.

According to the survey, employees pay close attention to their employer’s environmental commitment and place importance on the business’ sustainable impact.

Forty-six percent of respondents say it is important for the companies they do business with to operate from environmentally sustainable buildings. Opinions were stronger among Millennials (57 percent) and households with children (55 percent).

Also, 64 percent of respondents say they would contribute financially to improve their own environmental impact at the workplace. Of that number, 72 percent of Millennials say they are willing to contribute financially to make a sustainable difference at their job.

Sixty-eight percent of those taking actions to reduce their own environmental impact feel it is either “extremely” or “very” important that their employer does the same.

More than 90 percent of respondents would participate in environmentally friendly workplace activities if offered.

While 41 percent of respondents are satisfied with their employer’s environmental efforts, only 13 percent are “extremely satisfied,” indicating that there is room for improvement.

Employees who participate in workplace sustainability programs are likely to promote sustainable practices at home, and encourage others to participate. And three out of four will make purchasing decisions based on a company’s environmentally-conscious practices, according to a study published last year.