So what does being a good corporate citizen actually mean? There are many ways that companies can show that they are good corporate citizens but the common thread is as follows:

Corporate citizenship recognizes that businesses have a responsibility to respect the individuals, the community and the environment in a way that when devising or implementing any rightful business strategy they will abide by laws and regulations, and adhere to high ethical standards.

Individual citizens also have responsibilities and rights. Together with corporate citizens these entail a set of social values that provide a benchmark upon which they can perform their respective roles in harmony with the wider community, for mutual benefit.

1. Maintaining a high standard of business ethics
2. Working as part of the community;
3. Protecting the environment;
4. Providing good corporate governance;
5. Engaging in fair trade and business practices, as well as fair workplace relations.

It is believed that when businesses apply high standards of service, thereby instilling consumer confidence in their products and services, they ensure that not only will the business succeed in its endeavors, but also that the community as a whole will benefit from the positive effect this has on maintaining dynamism in the economy

For example Google, of Mountain View , Calif. , provides some form of equity in the company to all its regular employees, and encourages its engineers to devote 20 percent of their working hours to independent projects.

Microsoft, of Redmond , Wash. , gains kudos for bridging the “digital divide” between technology haves and have-nots around the world, for accommodating disabled workers, and for providing restricted stock options to most employees.