Inside FedEx's Culture of Safety and Sustainability

Corporate social responsibility is now a standard component of your typical company's mission statement. While some companies merely talk the talk, others—like FedEx—walk the walk. 

Photo: Crystian Cruz/Flickr

You can attribute several motivations for corporate social responsibility (CSR), including some not-so-admirable ideas like trying to cover up some bad press. But if there's one well-known and proven reason for adopting a philosophy of giving back, caring deeply about employee safety, and considering your company's place in the community and the environment, it's financial. It simply makes good business sense to be a good citizen.

CSR Contributes to the Bottom Line at FedEx

A study published this year in the Journal of Marketing investigated the motivations for CSR. Researchers found that, for the most part, it's implemented because of sound management practices, and because it pays off in the end, financially.

FedEx has one of the strongest cultures of sustainability out there. Its mission statement supports CSR in virtually all of its forms. One of many ways FedEx's CSR is manifested is through employee safety, and company officials found it not only contributes to the bottom line, but also the overall job satisfaction of its employees.

How CSR and Better Safety Standards Are Linked at FedEx

With a global network of employees delivering over seven million packages a day, FedEx knows that the safety and well-being of its employees is crucial.

Many of FedEx's safety training programs exceed what's required. It's one way of looking out for its employees, and part of its overall philosophy of CSR and sustainability.

When everyone is trained to the highest standards, and accident prevention is held in high regard at all levels of operations, there are fewer accidents. That's not only good for the bottom line, it's something FedEx employees tend to be proud of, too.

But it doesn't stop with training. FedEx's frontline employees benefit from Safety Continuous Improvement Teams, whose job is to always be on the lookout for potential incidents. There's no "set it and forget it" safety mentality around here. FedEx is constantly on the lookout for ways to do things better.

And as we all know, FedEx tends to be very good at what they set out to do, and now we know that includes providing a safe, sustainable work environment for all of its employees.