Integration and communication of CSR principles by IKEA. An analysis of the influence of and on external stakeholders

In spite of the rising influence of NGOs, the impact of CSR implementation and communication on NGOs’ perceptions and attitudes is rarely evoked. Moreover, empirical studies generally take into account one category of stakeholder at a time, preventing analysts from examining the likely differential impacts of CSR on distinct categories of stakeholders. In this context, this paper proposes (1) to analyze how different external and ubiquitous stakeholders can influence the development of CSR commitments and (2) to assess the impact of CSR commitments and communications on those stakeholders, by using an integrative framework aimed at providing an integrated stakeholder orientation for a step by step implementation of CSR (Maignan et al., 2005). Our analyses are based on an in-depth case study of IKEA and its main stakeholders: trade unions, customers, partner NGOs, organizations having blamed IKEA on CSR matters, local public authorities, organizations protecting small businesses, and specialized organizations dedicated to consultancy, promotion, and monitoring of CSR practices. Because of its continuous pressure on price and sub-contractors from developing countries, IKEA stands in a good position to run up against the sensitivity of alter globalization protesters. But in the same time, IKEA is seldom blamed on its CSR practices. Our results show how stakeholders can influence the development of CSR policies by conveying their societal expectations, by publicly blaming corporate behaviours considered as irresponsible or by entering in a collaborative and constructive relationship with the company. This case study also highlights the complexity of the corporate decisions related to CSR practices and communication, as well as the central role played by scepticism in the construction of CSRbased attitudes towards the company. By not involving stakeholders enough, IKEA’s CSR policy is gauged as too unilateral, what leads to a certain stakeholders’ scepticism about IKEA’s CSR practices. And IKEA is criticized for adopting a low profile in terms of CSR communication

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Health and safety of the older worker

This is the author's pre-copyedited accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2012 The Authors.Background - In the UK, increasing numbers of paid employees are over 60 years with further increases expected as the state pension age rises. Some concern surrounds possible increased work-related illness and accidents for people working beyond the age of 60. Aims - To identify the available evidence for health and safety risks of workers over age 60 years with respect to factors associated with injuries and accidents. Methods - Databases searched included PUBMED, OSHUpdate, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSHTIC-2), SafetyLit, the UK The Health and Safety Executive (HSELINE) and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety until December 2009. Inclusion criteria were workers aged over 60 years. Findings were grouped into occupational accidents and injuries and individual and workplace factors that may have influenced risk of injury to the over-60s. Results - Very little direct evidence was found concerning safety practices and health risks of workers over age 60. Some safety risks were associated with specific physical declines such as age-related hearing loss. Overall, these workers had fewer accidents and injuries but these were more likely to be serious or fatal when they occurred. There was no strong evidence that work patterns, including shift work or overtime, affected safety. Protective, compensatory strategies or experience may maintain safe working practices. Conclusions - Implications for health and safety risks cannot be assessed without longitudinal research on workforces with substantial numbers of workers over age 60 in order to address the healthy worker effect.Institution of Occupational Health and Safet

Selective citation in the literature on the hygiene hypothesis:A citation analysis on the association between infections and rhinitis

Objective Our objective was to assess the occurrence and determinants of selective citation in scientific publications on Strachan's original hygiene hypothesis. His hypothesis states that lack of exposure to infections in early childhood increases the risk of rhinitis. Setting Web of Science Core Collection. Participants We identified 110 publications in this network, consisting of 5551 potential citations. Primary and secondary outcome measures Whether a citation occurs or not, measured and analysed according to the preregistered protocol. Results We found evidence for citation bias in this field: publications supportive of the hypothesis were cited more often than non-supportive publications (OR adjusted for study design [adjOR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.1), and the same was the case for publications with mixed findings (adjOR 3.1, 95% CI 2.2 to 4.5). Other relevant determinants for citation were type of exposure, specificity, journal impact factor, authority and self-citation. Surprisingly, prospective cohort studies were cited less often than other empirical studies. Conclusions There is clear evidence for selective citation in this research field, and particularly for citation bias