PARTICULARITIES OF CSR PROGRAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the lives of all people. The most affected sectors were the medical, educational and disadvantaged communities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the way in which Romanian companies have adapted their CSR programs to the new conditions of the social and economic environment. The health crisis of 2020 highlighted the deficiencies in the health system and stressed the need for collaboration between the state and the private sector to overcome it. The increase in the demand for protective equipment, medical equipment has accelerated the collaboration between private companies and hospitals, which intervene by donating the necessary materials to those in the front line. The educational system was severely affected: the school had to run online, but many students and teachers did not have the necessary equipment and knowledge and in these conditions the risk of dropping out of school was very high, especially in disadvantaged communities. The CSR programs of Romanian companies also focused to this field, donating equipment: laptops, tablets or free internet connection for schools and for students with limited financial resources. The priorities of the CSR programs were directed in 2020, especially towards these fields in response to the needs of society.

Keywords

• COVID-19, CSR, health services, education.