Responsible business through crisis
Insight from senior leaders on how they led responsibly and maintained trust and resilience during COVID-19

Insight from senior leaders on how they led responsibly and maintained trust and resilience during COVID-19
Responsible business has been steadily climbing up the agenda, driven by growing investor and regulatory interest in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) issues, and an organisational focus on values and purpose. Work should be a force for good, and the CIPD calls for businesses to consider the needs of multiple stakeholders – beyond shareholders – and ensure employees benefit from the value created by organisations.
This three-year research project tells the story of responsible business and trustworthy leadership through the peak and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of UK senior leader experience. From the candid reflections of over 150 CEOs, HR directors and leaders across FTSE 100 firms, public sector bodies and high street brands, we offer a unique insight into leading an organisation during crisis. We identify key learnings that leaders should consider in their practice to build responsible businesses and embed cultures of trust, and explore the changing role of the HR profession.
The third and final report in the series reflects on the lessons learned from COVID-19, including practical applications for leadership and HR practice, and the responsibilities of leaders and followers as we enter a period perhaps more complex and challenging than the pandemic itself.
Download the 2022 report and executive summary below
The second report, written in 2021, focuses on maintaining and rebuilding trust during turbulent times, as the longer-term impact of the pandemic becomes clearer.
The first report and executive summary, written in 2020, offers an ‘oral history’ of leading through a once-in-a-generation pandemic, the decisions and trade-offs leaders made, and the personal experience and toll of leading through crisis.
These reports offer practical applications for leaders as we navigate through the challenges and opportunities created by the pandemic:
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