EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine November 2019 | Page 10

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Putting the Focus on Employees by Charles Newbery With the unemployment rate running at a record low, companies are utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies to place more focus on programs to attract and retain talent, including by doing good for society. It may cost money, but the payoff is a happier staff and, as more research is showing, higher profits and a healthier brand image. W hen Chris Bowler, a co-owner of Daytona Beverages, and his partners saw an opportunity to buy a line of craft beers from a rival distributor in Orlando, they ran it by their workforce to see what they thought. After two months of consideration, the vote was to go ahead with the acquisition, expanding the Daytona Beach company’s portfolio with new brands like Crooked Can, Founders and Funky Buddha. | 10 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE