Press release, 4 September 2014

Who is Austria’s Eyesore for 2014?

The Austrian Network Social Responsibility (“Netzwerk Soziale Verantwortung”) calls for nominations of particularly socially irresponsably acting companies, institutions, or individuals for the award “Eyesore of the Year”.

The outsourcing of G4S by the Federal Theatre Holding, the working conditions at the Apple supplier Foxconn, or the fire at a Kik supplier that resulted in the death of 259 people: there are numerous examples of socially irresponsible behavior of Austrian companies or companies active in Austria. Exploitative business policies are often successfully disguised. The aim of the eyesore is to change that! It was initiated by the Austrian Network Social Responsibility (“Netzwerk Soziale Verantwortung”, NeSoVe) in 2012 which is now calling for nominations for the eyesore for the third time: http://www.schandfleck.or.at/nominierung/

Companies, institutions, or individuals that may be nominated should have a link to Austria. After the nomination closing date on 31 October and a legal review of the cases, an online voting will be held to elect the eyesore of the year 2014. Also the jury will give a vote for the worst company of the year. The Eyesore will be awarded on the World Day of Social Justice in February 2015.

Background of the campaign: the contradiction between appearance and reality

Marieta Kaufmann, the director of the network NeSoVe and coordinator of the campaign, explains the context of the eyesore “We have seen in recent years more and more companies and institutions issuing reports on corporate social responsibility, thus presenting themselves as socially responsible. What seems positive at first sight, however, often turns out as a PR joke. We felt it was important to show the contradiction between appearance and reality, and therefore we had the idea of the eyesore of the year.”

Stefan Grasgruber-Kerl, the deputy Chairman of NeSoVe adds “The aim of the eyesore was to intervene in the discourse on corporate responsibility. It is important to show that often CSR is just greenwashing and do always needs the critical control of civil society. We also need better legal framework to protect people and nature from irresponsible companies.”

Franz Fiala, Chairman of NeSoVe stresses in terms of legal framework: “The number of nominations for the eyesore in recent years clearly shows us that companies must be subject to a more stringent regulation and precise control. It is important to us in this context, not to stand still at the level of moralizing. With the Eyesore we set also a distinct appeal to the public and politicians to strive for legislative improvements. Legislative reforms play a crucial role when it comes to prevent future blots.”

Eyesore of the Past Year

The Eyesore of the Year was awarded to KiK, Mayr-Melnhof Packaging, the Federal Theatre Holding, and Andritz Hydro GmbH in the past years.
Full clarifications of the reasons are on the file: http://www.schandfleck.or.at/dossier

All information of the nominations are on: http://www.schandfleck.or.at/