ABSTRACT
This chapter examines social responsibility in action in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), taking the case of workplace responses to HIV/AIDS in South Africa. It describes that the location of this case in a transitioning economy makes this case unique and particular. The chapter seeks to shed light on the spontaneous actions of small indigenous firms in consciously or unconsciously navigating social contribution. It explores that some business owners and managers have responded by creating and implementing various corporate social responsibility (CSR)-driven HIV/AIDS initiatives, not least in an effort to minimise the impacts of HIV/AIDS on their organisations. CSR is a topic of growing interest for policy-makers and academics alike. The chapter reports on research among eight diverse, indigenous SMEs, describing what sort of initiatives were and were not under way, the responses of employees, and the external, internal, cultural and societal factors influencing both.
