Enabling Staff to be Agents of Change through Volunteerism

One of my most rewarding volunteer experiences was presenting Junior Achievement programs to elementary and middle school classes. The students had fun as they learned about entrepreneurship and financial management. I volunteered through a professional association, but others were doing it through their employer’s corporate volunteering program. It was clear from interacting with these volunteers that they enjoyed working with their colleagues in this way and appreciated the volunteer opportunity.

A Deloitte survey showed that 69% of employees want more opportunity to volunteer, but 62% reported they cannot dedicate time during their workday. This creates an opportunity for creative employers to attract talent by providing corporate volunteering opportunities.

Corporate volunteer programs can take different forms.

1. Corporate Volunteering Day – Companies send teams of volunteers to work on a project for the day. Besides Junior Achievement, examples include Habitat for Humanity, a local food bank, and a community garden in an area with limited healthy food options. Employers can build enthusiasm for a corporate volunteering program and connect with employees by involving them in the selection of the nonprofit to support. Companies could have a “pitch day” where staff send their ideas to an employee committee who makes the recommendation to management.

2. Individual Volunteering – If participation in a corporate volunteer day does not fit everyone’s schedules, employers could provide time for employees to volunteer when it is convenient for them.

3. Nonprofit Boards – Many nonprofits lack board members with the finance, business development, communications, human resources, and other skills that corporate employees possess. Encouraging staff to serve a nonprofit organization in this way enables them to create positive change, while developing leadership skills that can benefit their own company.

The benefits to the employer are almost too numerous to list:

a. Team Building – Working together on projects unrelated to work can improve collaboration and stronger working relationships in the office.

b. Reduces Turnover – A Benevity study of 2 million employees showed that turnover is reduced by 39% when employees participate in company volunteer programs.

c. Builds Morale – A Deloitte survey found that 89% of respondents feel that companies who sponsor volunteer activities offer a better overall work environment.

d. Health Benefits - According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering reduces stress, increases positive feelings, and nurtures relationships, which can reduce heart disease, stroke, depression and general illness. Improved employee mental and physical health can increase productivity and reduce company insurance premiums.

e. Employee Appreciation – May Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics and an expert in motivating people, once said, “Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.” She started her company newsletter primarily to recognize the achievements of her consultants. Corporate volunteerism provides another way to acknowledge staff members.

f. Skill Development – According to Indeed, volunteering builds time management, teamwork, leadership, communications, problem solving, training, and people management skills. Companies can pay thousands for employee training programs, but corporate volunteer programs create the benefits for free!

g. Publicity – According to this Forbes article, 88% of consumers want brands that are ethical and environmentally friendly, while The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that 71% of U.S. Consumers Want ‘Socially Responsible’ Companies (Philanthropy.com). Make sure to track and publicize your staff’s volunteer activities. h. Stock Price – According to Barron’s, the stock prices of companies listed on Fortune’s 100 best places to work earned an excess of 2 to 2.7% a year.

Engaging employees in volunteer activities benefits the staff, nonprofit, and the employer.