Few consultants in Poland have such a long and illustrious association with CSR, sustainability and the environment, social and governance (ESG agenda) as does Deloitte's Irena Pichola, who has been a partner in sustainability consulting there since 2015, and is now global lead in climate action and sustainability for the public sector. The BPCC's Michael Dembinski talks to her about how business goals have moved on from the days when only growth and profits mattered.

Agnieszka Brzóska, vice-president of the Sue Ryder Foundation talks to the BPCC’s Michael Dembinski about the challenges of running a charity in Poland at a time of crisis.

 
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the idea that businesses should not only make a profit, but also take care of the world around them. It’s an investment that looks after the best interest of both the firm and its surrounding environment. A long-term strategy designed to improve sustainability, stakeholder wellbeing and corporate reputation. This article will identify the two types of CSR, showcase their benefits, and give a real-life example of the CSR initiatives at Bibby Financial Services.

 
By engaging in socially responsible and charitable activities, taxpayers incur various types of financial or non-cash expenses. As with any other types of cost, taxpayers must properly classify them.

When it comes to costs involved in charitable and socially responsible activities, the tax consequences can vary depending on the nature and purpose of the activity. Several basic types of costs should be distinguished.

Anna Rulkiewicz, CEO of Lux Med, Roger Davis, chairman of the board, Bupa (Lux Med’s parent company), Iñaki Ereño, Group CEO of Bupa, and Iñaki Peralta – CEO of Sanitas and Bupa Europe & Latin America, hosted a press conference in Warsaw on 29 March in which they outlined Lux Med’s support for Ukrainian refugees. The event was held on the third floor of the Marriott Hotel, where Lux Med has set up a clinic dedicated for their needs.

 
We can, so we help

We are helping! Our bank and all of us. We offer what we can: transport, accommodation, financial support, in-kind gifts and, above all, our hearts. We support our Ukrainian employees, contractors, clients and our colleagues at our sister bank, Ukrsibbank*.  Whenever possible, we rush to help all those who need it. We make sure that our actions are well coordinated and targeted, so that the help reaches where it’s needed and in the right form.

 
Just as we felt the world was getting back to some semblance of normality following the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, another crisis emerges – the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have all been extremely moved by the tragic consequences that this war is having on the Ukrainian people, millions of whom are fleeing the Ukraine to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, including Poland.

 
For the past two and half months we have witnessed the tragic events in Ukraine. Like many people across the world, myself and my colleagues at Shell felt the need to help our Ukrainian friends, in a meaningful way. I can proudly say that the same feelings were reflected by the entire Shell group which took considerate steps to distance itself from the Russian Federation, at the same time providing support to those affected by this war.

 
Recently, I was surprised by one of my Facebook memories. It was a company party picture from 2019 – a group of people together, dancing and smiling. It has been only three years, yet it seems like an alternative universe. We did not suspect how everything around us would change. But one thing has remained: strong and trusted relations are still fundamental, even more than ever.

 
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, nearly 3 million refugees have crossed the Polish border. Many of them are now taking their first steps into the Polish labour market, which is open to Ukrainian refugees because of special legislation recently passed in Poland, particularly the Act on Assistance for Ukrainian citizens of 12 March 2022.

 
Kraków Airport is aware that its operations and development plans have an impact on the immediate environment – local communities, businesses, people working in and around the airport and the local ecosystem. So we have been working every day for many years to integrate our business goals with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

 
One statistic that came to my attention a number of years ago noted by the journalist, Tomasz Lis, was his comparison of the scale of involvement in volunteer associations in Poland compared to countries in Western Europe and in the United States. His observation was that the tradition of volunteering and belonging to a club was very underdeveloped in Poland and much of the determinants here were related to Poland’s history and its subjugation under fascism and later communism.

 
From a moral to legal responsibility

As stakeholder activism on climate and social issues has gained traction and companies have been found culpable of ‘greenwashing’ or ‘socialwashing’ practices under the guise of CSR, regulators have been pushed into action to make ESG more than just a notion of moral responsibility. Indeed, by making requirements and obligations on companies more concrete, ESG is now taking on a legal dimension that promises to have far-reaching impact on business activities, models and partnerships. Although businesses have largely welcomed these efforts, with ESG engagement increasingly being tied with financial performance, the significant financial, human and information resources needed to ensure compliance may represent nonetheless a significant obstacle to an effective uptake of more transparent and sustainable practices.

 
Poland has implemented European Council Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD 2) by introducing anti-hybrid provisions into its domestic law from January 2021. The taxpayers should take new rules into account in their 2021 CIT settlements and onwards. The deadline for 2021 CIT return and CIT payment elapses on 30 June 2022, so there’s still time to review and include hybrid mismatch position.