The last two years have given everyone across the world a chance to be mindful and empathetic towards the people around them. This has created a shift in the perspective of employees, customers, and communities and has them wanting to contribute back to their communities, even if the contribution is small.
Employees are also becoming increasingly concerned about how their company contributes to society rather than just how much revenue it generates. As a result, businesses of all sizes are increasingly implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and strategies.
While there are various methods for a firm to participate in CSR initiatives, corporate volunteering programs are the most active and engaging alternative. Let us look at what corporate volunteering programs mean and the benefits corporate volunteering can have on companies
Corporate volunteering is a means for companies to encourage their employees to give back to their communities by allowing them to volunteer. This is an employee engagement strategy that corporates can use to help build a more engaged and valued workforce.
Simultaneously, these programs respond to the need for corporations to be more globally conscious. Corporate volunteering programs have gone on to support ESG strategies for our economies and the world. A survey showed that 9 out of 10 employees prefer to work for less money to perform more meaningful work. Customers are also 4 to 6 times more inclined to purchase from purpose-driven businesses.
According to Deloitte, over two-thirds of employees between the ages of 25 - 40 years (millennials) prefer to work for companies that allow them to donate their knowledge and learned skills. Simultaneously, when it comes to choosing their next employer, 83 percent of Millennials believe a company's commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical.
A corporate volunteer program can help improve your reputation as an organization and seat you at the head of the table when it comes to hiring new talent who are looking for organizations with a purpose.
Consumers in 2021 prefer to be known as the ‘woke’ generation. This has made them conscious and concerned about a company's impact on the planet, along with their products or services. 71 percent of Americans desire corporations that are socially responsible. A survey of more than 5000 people from 14 different industrialized nations projected that 78 percent of people favor companies that are socially conscious.
As a result, companies that include corporate social responsibility strategies have gained better PR attraction and marketing strategies seem to be yielding a good outcome. Corporate volunteerism allows businesses to connect more meaningfully with their local communities, which can lead to excellent press for their public relations department.
We cannot discredit the genuine positive impact every volunteering program can have on the environment around us. Employees can participate in meaningful volunteer activities with their coworkers through a corporate volunteer program. Volunteering can be a fun way to bond with your coworkers. Nonetheless, rather than retreating, employees collaborate to make a positive difference, which raises morale and leads to more productive and positive work environments.This can also benefit the cause they work for and, in a large way.
Purpose-driven employees, according to the Social Purpose Institute, are 20% more likely to continue in the same firm and have an added 50% likelihood to take up leadership positions. The study also states that 47% of the employees are more likely to promote the firm they work for, with more than 60% of them having higher job satisfaction. This means corporate volunteering ideas make for excellent human resource investment.
Corporate volunteering ideas improve employee and departmental teamwork while also motivating employees to develop new skills. Employees also have the opportunity to work on projects that are less stressful and more varied than their 9-to-5 occupations. Corporations can also use their workers' existing skills for good by encouraging them to contribute their time and talents to charitable causes.
To Sum Up
Corporate volunteering programs can be largely beneficial to employers in terms of creating a brand image, boosting employee morale, or even just a way of being socially responsible. A study by the CIPD mentions, 80 percent of employees who volunteered in schools improved their communication skills, 79 percent increased their sense of mission at work, and 68 percent felt more motivated at work. And, using a corporate volunteering software makes it super simple for you to run these programs.
Chezuba helps companies build corporate volunteering through its technology-enabled platform. By creating virtual volunteering opportunities with Non-Profits worldwide, and by mapping these opportunities with employees' skills and causes, we are not just creating a better world, but also happy workplaces. Request a demo to learn more about how you can build corporate volunteering programs for your company.
We help purpose-driven companies to manage their social impact strategy
