As you start to look for potential employers, you’ll weigh a lot of factors. Besides the obvious concern for professional opportunities and suitable compensation, you may also be searching for an organization that aligns with your personal values.
If environmental sustainability is high among those values, you aren’t alone. People everywhere have grown more conscious of the role organizations play in protecting our quality of life. That includes job candidates, too.
In Deloitte’s 2025 survey of Gen Z and millennials, nearly half of employees in both groups said they put pressure on their organizations to help protect the environment. Employers who listen don’t just help preserve our planet, but also plant the seeds for long-term success by attracting newer generations of talent.
Even so, it’s not enough for an organization to claim eco-friendly practices. Meaningfully committing to those ideas, being transparent about action, making a difference and demonstrating impact is undeniably more important to more and more employees. Ultimately, when we see our values reflected in our employers, it inspires us to take part in their success and grow with them.
So how can you be sure your next workplace takes those concerns seriously? Keep these four important sustainability commitments in mind as you look for a prospective employer.
Annual reporting
Any organization that takes sustainability seriously understands the need to be transparent about their environmental initiatives. Committed companies report their sustainability efforts so employees and the public at large can see their impact. Year-over-year and benchmarking data related to these efforts shows how an organization:
- tracks its progress
- improves over time
- holds itself accountable
Along with providing the most current data, sharing goals for improvement promotes accountability and demonstrates companies are serious about their environmental impact.
At Paycom, for example, we publish our annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report detailing our environmental initiatives, their development and areas where we can continue to improve.
Reducing waste
When organizations reduce or eliminate waste, it helps save their resources and contribute to a healthier, circular economy.
Recycling and composting efforts can have a significant environmental impact, so look for an organization that provides designated receptacles for both. If a company provides supplies in its cafeteria or break rooms, are they eco-friendly? When possible, items such as cutlery, to-go boxes, napkins, drinkware, lids and plates should be made from 100% recyclable or compostable materials.
Electronic waste matters, too. Vendors can assist today’s companies with the reuse and recovery of hazardous electronic waste to divert toxic materials from landfills.
Whenever Paycom needs to dispose of electronic waste like outdated computers and servers, all company data is destroyed and the equipment is recycled or refurbished through a partnership with an Oklahoma company committed to responsible recycling.
Energy use and efficiency
Energy reduction and efficient energy practices set apart those organizations committed to sustainability. After all, today’s employees want their employer to make smart decisions about the future.
Prioritizing energy efficiency shows an organization cares about forward-thinking and responsible resource management. In turn, employees feel a sense of pride from the positive impact they help create.
Organizations can choose renewable energy sources like wind power and 100% renewable grid electricity. Regular audits help them identify even more ways to improve efficiency.
At Paycom, 100% wind energy powers our Oklahoma City headquarters and operations center in Grapevine, Texas, through the purchase of renewable energy credits. We rely on several practices to increase our energy efficiency, including on-site electric vehicle chargers for our employees at no cost.
Reducing emissions
Companies committed to environmental sustainability often take steps to measure the amount of greenhouse gas emitted across their facilities. After all, carbon emissions contribute heavily to climate change. Organizations that actively and continually reduce their emissions play a major role in improving our air quality and offsetting harmful environmental effects.
Paycom constantly monitors the greenhouse gas emissions from our corporate campuses in Oklahoma and Texas, as well as our newly acquired data center in Arizona. As we continue to grow, we’ll continue to measure, assess and ultimately reduce our carbon footprint.
Paycom and sustainability
As a corporation, Paycom is committed to continuous improvement, and that extends to our sustainability initiatives. Our technology helps our clients go green by eliminating paper-based processes as they manage their payroll, HR tasks and documents in our single software.
We also work to minimize our environmental impact by implementing green initiatives throughout our daily operations, like with on-campus receptacles for recycling and composting.
Paycom is also proud to support eco-friendly causes. Earlier this year, we donated $40,000 to PADI AWARE Foundation through our employee giving program and company donation match. The nonprofit works to address key ocean threats and promote global ocean conservation.
And when wildfires devastated portions of Los Angeles earlier this year, Paycom and our team donated $80,000 to LA Conservation Corps. The nonprofit used these funds to support its ongoing recovery efforts and revitalize community development.
To read more about Paycom’s environmental efforts, take a look at our current Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
Go green with us! Find your next great position at Paycom Careers and apply today.
