The Importance of an Employee Volunteer Program
Author: Rina Jonesen
Companies with employee volunteer programs are increasing. In 2014, only 40% of companies had them. This year, SHRM reports that 47% of companies are offering employee volunteer programs. One Texan company that has been commended as one of the best to work for is Austin Bank—this is because the employee volunteer program resulted in an ideal working environment that benefited their employees.
Why exactly are employee volunteer programs increasing? Let’s move on to their importance and how to start your own.
Why are employee volunteer programs important?
It improves employee retention
Retaining employees in this age of countless other opportunities is hard. Other companies have better benefits and bigger pay, attracting your current workforce. However, America’s Charities informs us that 88% of business leaders believe that employee volunteer programs are helping retain and attract employees. Some companies offer volunteering as paid time-off opportunity. Thus, employees get time away from work while contributing to a good cause.
It builds better brand perception and employee teamwork
Volunteering means giving back to the community—a corporate social responsibility practice that benefits the company. Consumers will perceive your brand in a better light after knowing that your employees are volunteering. This also empowers employees because they contribute to society beyond what they do in their regular job. They get a sense of accomplishment and community belonging, improving their teamwork and cooperation since they utilize these skills in a different environment.
It increases employees' learning and development
Volunteering brings new experiences. In fact, researchers from Maynooth University concluded that employees donate their technical skills when volunteering and gain new skills—such as interpersonal skills—in turn. Given this, every volunteer activity results in upskilling. It may not be technical skills they can use at work, like analyzing data or managing documents, but it will most likely be along the lines of better team communication and time management.
How to start an employee volunteer program
Choose a cause to support
Choosing a cause to be the beneficiary of your volunteer efforts is crucial in grounding your program. Doing so based on your company’s core values helps your employees gain a deeper understanding of your organization while giving back to the community. For this reason, you may want to choose a social justice concern that your employees find highly relevant. Maryville University explains that this is because certain social issues emerge at different times. Some are more relevant in a particular neighborhood or culture compared to others. Additionally, a cause that employees can relate to motivates them to commit to the program more fully. For example, if your workplace is in an area struggling with racial equality and your company prides itself on DEI efforts, a cause that supports minorities is a great choice. If your employees are part of these minority groups, they’ll find it easier to engage in the program because they’re contributing to their community through an advocacy they relate to.
Take a closer look at your choice
The next thing is to acquaint yourself better with your chosen organization or community. A single group controls a private foundation, so your volunteer efforts will solely go towards what they decide. Meanwhile, a public charity receives significant support from the general public and governmental units. Their public involvement and interaction levels are much higher, so this is something to consider if you value such interactions. It’s also vital to conduct background checks on groups to ensure they’re credible. Our services and ‘How to Implement an Employee Volunteer Program’ resource will help you achieve this. We have a directory of over 130,000 nonprofits offering volunteer opportunities, saving you hours of research.
Integrate it into the company schedule
Our post ‘What Makes Someone More Likely to Volunteer?’ highlights that employees are more likely to participate in volunteer efforts when it’s integrated into their schedule. Plus, they’ll be more attracted if it’s counted as paid time off. Set it up during work if you’re opting for a corporate team-building volunteer activity. Our platform can also find opportunities that align with your schedule to make this process easier. Overall, making volunteering part of your employees’ work schedule increases their involvement in such activities.
Employee volunteer programs benefit your company and the communities you will support. It increases employee retention, teamwork, and development while building better brand perception. Your chosen community also gets extra hands that bring them closer to their goals. Start one today to reap these benefits while doing something great for society.