Caring for vulnerable members of society is the responsibility of companies to reduce inequality
“Companies must engage in the realm of inclusion in order to avoid any sort of discrimination and implement active policies that reach all stakeholders if they want to be acknowledged as responsible companies” emphasized Ignasi Carreras, professor and director of NGO management training programs at the Esade Social Innovation Institute during the online lecture “Responsible business and vulnerable consumers”, in the Esade–SERES Foundation Lecture Series. Carreras also mentioned the uncertainty and increased inequality of today’s landscape due to the pandemic and inflation, and encouraged companies to engage with diversity from a fair standpoint.
Ana Sainz, managing director of the SERES Foundation, underlined the importance of “companies being socially engaged in an increasingly robust way. So, it’s crucial to put people at the center of strategy and analyze and measure the real impact”. The effort devoted to measuring and championing the importance of the impact on society has culminated in “the creation of the Mapa SERES de Huella Social© [SERES Social Impact Map]”, she explained, “an instrument that provides a robust, data-based vision of the social impact of companies in business and helps them pinpoint how they can make a positive impact on employees, customers, suppliers and communities.”
Key factors for reducing inequality amongst vulnerable groups
Nacho Rodríguez, Director of Communication and Sustainability at ING Spain & Portugal, highlighted the priority of banks to serve vulnerable consumers. “A society in good financial health will be a better society”, he commented. Rodríguez also mentioned training and financial education as two cornerstones that can help and guide vulnerable families, thereby ensuring a friendly, fair and honest relationship. However, he also cited the challenge of looking ahead, “so that vulnerable customers are not vulnerable” using tools such as Big Data enabling a proactive approach to people.
“The main mission of Correos is to connect people with regions by means of three cornerstones: economic, social and environmental sustainability”, explained Iván Maroto, managing director of Digital Business and Correos Market at Correos. On the same line, he mentioned the focus on depopulated Spain and the challenge of “helping these regions go digital faster to help improve business development.” Likewise, Maroto explained Correos Market, a venture that aims to help Spanish SMEs sell their products online, without intermediaries, and a commitment to going digital, “which has gone from being a competitive edge to being essential.”
Nerea Plaza, director of Social Action at Agbar, highlighted the importance of guaranteeing humanity’s right to water. “It’s a basic, essential and universal service, in which we must pay close attention to vulnerable customers”, she admitted. In this respect, Agbar has created a solidarity fund over the last decade to subsidize the bills of vulnerable families and, as a result of the pandemic, has implemented specific measures to narrow the language and digital gap. Finally, Plaza mentioned the importance of deploying data and technology with a social vision. “Companies,” she concluded, “are obliged to pay attention to vulnerable groups.”
