Summary: Discover how encouraging employee volunteerism can boost morale, enhance skills, and strengthen your company culture. From improving retention to creating goodwill in the community, volunteering benefits your employees and your bottom line. Read on to learn how fostering a culture of giving back can transform your workplace.
The holiday season often inspires a sense of generosity and community involvement. Encouraging your employees to volunteer as part of a company-wide initiative can strengthen your corporate culture, improve employee engagement, and benefit your business in numerous ways. Here's how fostering a culture of giving back can create a win-win for your team and your organization.
Increase Employee Engagement and Retention
Employee engagement and retention are critical to a thriving business. Retaining happy employees is far less expensive than hiring and training new ones, and engaged employees are significantly more productive.
Volunteering, primarily through a corporate-sponsored program, boosts morale and fosters loyalty. According to the Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey, millennials who frequently participate in workplace volunteer activities are more likely to feel proud, loyal, and satisfied with their jobs than those who rarely or never volunteer[1]. Investing in volunteer programs creates a workplace environment where employees feel valued and inspired.
Enhance Employee Skills and Promote Wellness
Volunteer programs offer opportunities for employees to develop and refine their skills while supporting other critical corporate initiatives like wellness programs. For example:
- Skill Development: Volunteering provides hands-on experience in leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, public speaking, event planning, fundraising, and grant writing.
- Health and Wellness: Programs that encourage physical activity, such as training for a charity fun run, and promote employee wellness while fostering mentorship and camaraderie.
- Technical Training: Volunteering in areas like adult computer literacy programs can help employees stay current with technology and broaden their skill sets.
Young professionals in industries such as law or finance can also gain invaluable real-world experience by volunteering with non-profit organizations, legal aid clinics, or community initiatives.
Boost Your Company's Bottom Line
Encouraging volunteer work can benefit your company financially, both directly and indirectly:
- Tax Incentives and Grants: Consult your financial advisors to determine if employee volunteer activities make your company eligible for local, provincial, or federal tax credits. Community grants may also be available for certain types of volunteer work.
- Marketing and Publicity: Volunteering can double as a positive publicity opportunity. Highlighting employee participation in community events on social media or local news platforms can enhance your company's reputation.
- Training Cost Savings: Aligning volunteer opportunities with skill development areas relevant to your business can save significant training costs.
Build Goodwill and Camaraderie
Volunteering fosters teamwork and strengthens relationships among employees. Group volunteer projects like community clean-ups or food bank packaging allow employees to collaborate in new ways, improving interpersonal relationships and creating a shared purpose.
One study revealed that 87% of volunteers developed stronger teamwork and job-related skills, while 81% reported better relationships with colleagues[3]. Additionally, most participants experienced improved health, reduced stress, and a deeper connection to their community, translating into higher workplace satisfaction.
How to Encourage Volunteer Work
Integrating volunteerism into your corporate culture can be simple. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Incorporate Volunteer Days: Add a volunteer day to team-building retreats or events.
- Offer Incentives: Provide rewards such as paid volunteer days, corporate sponsorships for volunteer-driven events, or recognition programs for employee contributions.
- Share Volunteer Stories: Encourage employees to share their volunteer experiences on your company's social media channels to inspire others and showcase your corporate values.
Streamline Volunteer Programs with StarGarden
StarGarden's integrated HCM systems make managing all aspects of payroll, scheduling, and HR documentation easy, including volunteer initiatives. Let us help you align your workforce with impactful corporate programs. Learn more about the advantages of our integrated HR and payroll software at www.stargarden.com or contact us today!
Sources
[1] "Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Research." Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, 2015.
[2] "Talent Retention Study." benevity, 2022.
[3] "Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study." UnitedHealth Group, 2013.