The “Signaling Theory” is a theoretical framework that investigates the content reported in sustainability reports, considering that through signaling, companies can influence stakeholders’ perceptions, create a competitive advantage and positively impact their corporate image. Signals can be classified into three types: camouflage, intent and necessity. By analyzing their sustainability reports, this study presents a step-by-step approach to classifying sustainability practices reported by companies according to the aforementioned types of signals. We propose a step-by-step approach based on a thematic and qualitative analysis that encourages replication by the research community. Details in the study will validate the proposed method and consider the lessons learned. • A method is proposed that allows the sustainability practices reported by companies to be classified into camouflage, intent and necessity signals through their sustainability reports. • A seven-step process for thematic analysis is described based on a qualitative research approach for achieving the above-mentioned goal. • The classification of sustainability practices into the camouflage typology is a challenging process, as it tends to be biased, hence the identification of this type of signals in comparison with those of intent and necessity requires the adoption of measures that guarantee the reduction of bias on the part of the researcher.

Work helps to satisfy instrumental and transcendental needs. For people affected by armed conflict, work has an additional value because it helps them overcome the social disadvantage they suffer; however, topics such as meaningful work—MW—have been poorly studied in this type of population. Based on the above, we propose to analyze the relationship between meaningful work and satisfaction with life in one of the largest private supported employment programs for people involved in the armed conflict in Colombia. To this end, a nonexperimental, quantitative case study was conducted with 62 employees of that employment program. To collect the data, a survey with two measurement scales was administered: Work as Meaning Inventory and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Sociodemographic variables were also obtained. The results demonstrate that meaningful work has a significant effect on satisfaction with life (R² = 0.28, p < 0.00). We conclude that having meaningful work that provides a sense of belonging, interpersonal connection, and attachment generates greater satisfaction with life in the workers involved in the analyzed program. We also discuss the implications of this research for companies and public policy in Colombia.

Building a corporate reputation begins from within organizations because when a business develops a favorable internal reputation can drive positive word of mouth dynamics from internal stakeholders. However, there is still little empirical evidence regarding the identification of the determining factors of internal corporate reputation in the Social and Solidarity Economy Sector. Therefore, this study aims to identify the antecedents of corporate reputation from the perspective of internal interest groups in four sections of a Colombian Savings and Credit Cooperative. To achieve the purpose, a qualitative study was carried out, in which seven focus groups made up of managers, workers and members of the Board of Directors participated. To analyze the information obtained, a thematic content analysis was carried out in two moments and three phases. The obtained results show that the antecedents of the corporate reputation identified by the participants in the study are: 1) the quality of the services provided (opportunity, personalized service and warmth of care), 2) the organizational culture, related to family dynamics and the cooperative values that underlie it and 3) the appropriation of organizational identity, which includes the definition of the associate's profile and the sense of belonging. The conclusions discuss the aspects that make cooperatives different from their competitors and propose new lines of research.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented situation, impacting all productive sectors. Human resources departments have been instrumental in migrating from a functional to a strategic perspective, contributing to the strengthening of organisations. This chapter aims to analyse workplace responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the adoption of human resources practices through a systematic literature review. Findings indicate that the main responses to the pandemic were creating a work team to manage the crisis; virtual work at the individual and group levels; encouraging virtual leadership; psychological, financial, and health support; fostering a work environment favourable to empowerment, shared decision-making, and participation. Other frequently mentioned human resources practices were compensation, flexible working, work design, performance management, remote working, work-family balance, recognition programmes, and training and development practices.

La empresa juega un papel importante en los procesos de construcción de paz de las naciones y para el caso de Colombia, esta no es una excepción; no obstante, es aún escaso el porcentaje de empresarios que participan en actividades de construcción de paz. Para profundizar en lo anterior, se estableció como objetivo de la presente investigación analizar la noción de construcción de paz desde el ámbito empresarial, empleando una metodología mixta con diseño convergente paralelo. En la recolección de información se emplearon documentos, artículos de investigación, encuestas y entrevistas, y fue procesada mediante técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que la responsabilidad social empresarial puede ser empleada como una herramienta que favorece la construcción de paz, entre otros factores organizacionales, asimismo se requiere introducir el enfoque de gestión de la diversidad, tanto en procesos de formación como en contextos de trabajo, así como revisar los contenidos curriculares de los programas de administración, sobre el conocimiento de las condiciones históricas y socioeconómicas del país. Se concluye que, si bien hoy en día se reconoce la necesidad de participación de la empresa en los procesos de construcción de paz, aún esta se constituye como una asignatura pendiente en Colombia.