Corporate social responsibility of the top ten: examples taken from the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Purpose – The paper aims to attempt to track the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice of the ten largest Polish listed companies. The CSR activity of the top ten companies may not only help to solve or ease several social problems, but it could also increase the awareness among Poles and contribute to the rebuilding of a civic society. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyzes CSR policies in Poland using the case of the ten largest (in terms of market capitalization) companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The analysis covered the CSR (programs), reporting (web site) and the business strategy with reference to CSR. Findings – The collected evidence suggests that the ten largest Polish companies present a passive approach to CSR activities. The majority of these companies are involved in charities and provide money for a given group of people. A more proactive approach of delivering solutions to social problems is definitely less common. The widely defined sponsoring, targeting different areas and groups remain the most popular CSR activity. Research limitations/implications – The analysis covers only the ten largest Polish listed companies. Further research should also refer to other listed companies as well as small and medium companies. Originality/value – The paper discusses the CSR activities of the largest listed Polish companies and refers these initiatives to the main social challenges resulting from the transition process, the implementation of a liberal economic policy and state withdrawal in the case of a weak and inefficient state and institutions and the lack of a civic society.