PURDUE I/O PSYCHOLOGY AND THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT: A PROPOSAL

Drew Mallory

Meghan Thornton

Rachel Saef

Scott Parrigon

Faculty lead: Prof. Deborah Rupp

2

OVERVIEW

• The United Nations Global Compact is a set of 10 principles for business conduct which deal with human rights, labor, environmental sustainability, and anticorruption

• “Joining” the Global Compact simply involves affirming these principles, and for an I/O graduate program like ours, including them in our training model, and reporting (very generally) on our related activities

• Joining the Global Compact:

• is easy

• serves an important social purpose

• provides benefits to students and faculty

• brings positive exposure to the program, department, and university

• assists SIOP in its UN-partnered work

3

I/O IN TRANSITIONI/O PSYCHOLOGY IS EXPANDING

• SIOP 2014 theme: Bridging the Gap Between I/O and the World

• But we’re still WEIRD: Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic

• Only 20% of the American workforce: Is employed by Fortune 500 Companies

• 60% of the working world: Works in the “informal economy”• In some places even higher: India is 98%

• However, SIOP as an organization, as well as I/O Research and Practice more broadly are in a state of rapid change:

• Humanitarian Work Psychology• Person-Centric Work Psychology• Corporate Social Responsibility• Pro-Social I/O Psychology

4

I/O IN TRANSITIONI/O PSYCHOLOGY IS EXPANDING

• These trends are consistent with our ethical obligations as psychologists, e.g., the APA general principles:

• Beneficence & nonmaleficence• Fidelity & responsibility• Integrity• Justice• Respect for the rights and dignity of individuals

• A world of questions are now open: • Do I/O theories and interventions work in interculturally and intraculturally?• Can I/O be used to assist international development work?• How can we best increase the quality of life of workers?• How can I/O be used to prevent corruption or ensure the protection of

marginalized groups?

5

I/O & THE GLOBAL COMPACTSIOP’S WORK WITH THE UNITED NATIONS

• These issues are being addressed at high levels in SIOP

• SIOP granted consultative status as an NGO in 2011: Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations

• A remarkable and unique privilege for any expert body• Allows SIOP to advise and assist ECOSOC on matters pertaining to our expertise• The overarching goal:

“…to leverage work-, worker-, and employment-related theory, research, and practice to help advance the goals of the UN and increase I-O psychologists’ potential for global impact.” – The SIOP-UN Committee, TIP, 2011

• First objective of the SIOP-UN Committee : Bring SIOP into alignment with the United Nations Global Compact

6

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

• Launched in 2000: Represents a voluntary global strategy on decent work

“The United Nations Global Compact is a platform for business and non-business entities to proactively network and engage in areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption while contributing to UN goals in order to achieve the common objectives of building a sustainable and inclusive global economy.”

-- United Nations Global Compact, 2000

• Global Compact Goal: Mainstream 10 principles on decent work into modern business practices

• Principles are derived from: Four major UN conventions on• Human rights• Labor• The environment• Anti-corruption

7

10 PRINCIPLES OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT

Human Rights

• Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

• Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.  

Labour

• Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

• Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

• Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and

• Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.  

8

10 PRINCIPLES OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT

Environment

• Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

• Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

• Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.   

Anti-Corruption

• Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. 

9

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

• Signatories support the Global Compact through: formal endorsement of the 10 principles in business operations

• Signatories also engage in: advocacy, networking, and reporting on adherence

• Participation is flexible and non-binding: Signatories voluntarily interpret principles for their own context

• Over 8,000 businesses in 145 countries currently participate in the Global Compact

10

I/O & THE GLOBAL COMPACTGLOBAL COMPACT AND UNIVERSITIES

• The Global Compact realizes that the principles are relevant for business and organizational education as well:

“Through thought leadership, research, educational resources, learning know-how, and educational infrastructure, [higher education

institutions] can advance the Global Compact agenda by…” -- UN Global Compact, 2000

• Increasing knowledge and understanding of corporate social responsibility

• Shaping future business leaders through education on responsible management and leadership

• Many business schools have already joined• It’s time for I/O: I/O programs are a natural fit

11

GLOBAL COMPACT AND UNIVERSITIES

• Awareness and practice of the Global Compact principles is highly relevant for I/O graduate training, especially given the field’s movement toward more pro-social considerations

• Participation could easily be carried out via a wide variety of activities:• Discussion of humanitarian issues and corporate social responsibility in

undergraduate I/O courses• Graduate seminar topics related to humanitarian work psychology, corporate

social responsibility, and ethics/justice in the workplace• Brownbags that hit on issues relevant to the Global Compact principles• Consideration of the Global Compact principles within research and applied

projects

• Many I/O Programs are already doing this—aligning with the Global Compact allows us to simply formalize these efforts and further promote the values and ethical standards of our field (and remain accountable to them)

I/O & THE GLOBAL COMPACT

12

PURDUE I/O & THE GLOBAL COMPACTWE ENDORSE GLOBAL COMPACT PRINCIPLES

• We are already doing work that is consistent with the Global Compact principles• Louis Tay: World Happiness Report 2• Deborah Rupp: SIOP Representative to the United Nations• Drew Mallory: Intern to the SIOP-UN Committee• Brett Guidry, Caitlin Porter, Kelly Sherer, Meghan Thornton: Consulting project for UNICEF• Brett Guidry, Caitlin Porter, Meghan Thornton, Drew Mallory, William Brice: Purdue Quality of

Work Environment Initiative

• We already conduct Global Compact-consistent research: • Health and wellbeing • CSR• Employee justice• Multi-cultural research• Ethics in the workplace

• We already prioritize person-centric work psychology as a program

• We hold one of the only Humanitarian Work Psychology doctoral seminars

UNGC MEMBERSHIPWHAT DOES JOINING LOOK LIKE?

UNGC MEMBERSHIPWHAT DOES JOINING LOOK LIKE?

• Commit: Send a letter to UNGC (will require Dept. Head’s/Dean’s signature)• Note that only the I/O Program is proposing to join

UNGC MEMBERSHIPWHAT DOES JOINING LOOK LIKE?

UNGC MEMBERSHIPWHAT DOES JOINING LOOK LIKE?

• Commit: Send a letter to UNGC (will require Dept. Head’s/Dean’s signature)• Note that only the I/O Program is proposing to join

• Assess : Determine how we can create improvements

• Define: Translate our objectives into concrete steps

• Implement: Translate our plan into action

• Measure: Keep qualitative or quantitative records of all activities

• Communicate: Brief bi-annual report on HEI’s efforts

(signed by Dept. Head/Dean)• Students can prepare all documentation and keep all records

REPORTING EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

18

BENEFITS TO SIGNATORIES

Additional Networking Opportunities• Directly connects us with organizations and business programs

trying to make a difference• Global Compact Business Partnership Hub• Global Compact has a variety of work groups to join

Research and Application Opportunities• Enable direct access to organizations looking for collaborators• We can showcase these affiliations when seeking external

research and consulting work as a demonstration of our commitment to high quality, ethical work

OPPORTUNITIES

19

BENEFITS TO SIGNATORIES

Increased Recognition and Branding Opportunity• Global Compact encourages logo use and affiliations

• Can be used on websites, recruiting info, etc.• Increased visibility within I/O, Management, and the applied realm• Increased differentiation for potential incoming faculty and students

Highest Quality Education• Help to provide I/O students with a richer education based on contemporary

ethical issues• Allows students an opportunity to see the application of I/O domestic and non-

WEIRD global issues• Change the professional and academic workforce as our students enter

academic and applied organizations

• Joining the Global Compact is setting the stage for Purdue I/O

–and for I/O around the world.

OPPORTUNITIES

20

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

21

OTHER RESOURCES

http://goo.gl/86Xivu - Handbook for HEIs

http://goo.gl/MJwia - How to Apply

http://goo.gl/0sZmjg – Examples of HEI participation

http://goo.gl/zmv4ex - Six Principles of PRME

http://goo.gl/LNCa4o - Overview of UNGC

http://goo.gl/VJDZiL - SIOP creates SIOP-UN

APT Metrics COE