Actions of Timberland: Being A Socially Responsible Company

Timberland is emerging as a leading model of a socially responsible company as it demonstrates what it is doing to help provide a better quality of life for the children whose parents work in its factories. One of the impacts of supply chains like Timberland's is that children are separated from their parents for long stretches of time and distance. Besides the emotional impact of living away from their parents, these children often lack supervision and family support needed to give them the best possible upbringing and home life.

For example, in China, a minimum of 50 million children are left behind as their parents leave rural areas to work in factories. So, to make positive change, Timberland partners with organisations such as the All-China Women's Federation to provide companionship and education programs for the factory workers' children. In fact, Timberland employees now spend their own vacation time organising summer camps for the 'left behind children'; the first camp was held in 2009 by this socially responsible company. It was so successful that it is now an annual event.

Timberland's programmes that are focused on workers and their children are found in other parts of the developing world where Timberland factories have a presence. In India, one factory in the south of the country has a day care centre for the children of its workers. The parents appreciate the benefit of leaving their children in a safe environment while they work their shift at the factory, plus enjoy the opportunity to visit their children when on break.

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Sangeeta Haindl is a staff writer for Justmeans on Social Enterprise. When not writing for Justmeans, Sangeeta wears her other hat as a PR professional. Over the years, she has worked with high-profile organizations within the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors; and won awards from her industry. She now runs her own UK consultancy: Serendipity PR & Media.