Corporate Social Responsibility in a Context of Permanent Restructuring: a case study from the Swiss metalworking sector

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of CSR initiatives in restructuring processes. It assesses how steps taken by company managers combine with legislative interventions and shareholders’ initiatives with a view to promoting workers’ rights. It is based on the case study of a Swiss company from the metalworking sector, Tornos, which has been for 20 years in a process of permanent restructuring. First the legal and conventional resources available in Switzerland are listed, then how Tornos mobilised these tools in its situation is analysed. The conclusion summarises the main lessons with regard to the impact of CSR in the Swiss context.