Corporate Volunteerism Pays Off
Lend a hand to help your community and your business
Recent studies have shown that individuals enjoy improved physical and mental health when they volunteer time for a good cause, most likely as a result of a sense of purpose and accomplishment. But can corporate volunteerism have a positive impact on the health of your business as well?
According to volunteermatch.org, a website that helps match volunteers with needs in their communities, companies of all sizes may enjoy key advantages including:
- Improved morale and team-building. When company teams work together on a volunteer project outside the office, they forge stronger relationships with each other and feel good about doing something meaningful.
- Ongoing learning. Many volunteers pick up new skills they might not have learned in their normal work environment.
- A broader customer base. Studies have shown that the majority of young Americans aged 13 to 25 trust a company more if it is socially and/or environmentally responsible. Likewise, they will pay more attention to a company’s message if they find that the company is committed to a cause.
If you’ve considered giving your employees time to do volunteer work, here are suggestions for getting started:
- Assess employee interests, business objectives and community needs. Visit volunteermatch.org or 1800volunteer.org to find local opportunities for volunteers. Then look for opportunities that align with your business goals — whether that includes increasing employee morale and retention or enhancing your reputation in the local marketplace.
- Pick a project. Most likely, you’ll find it best to focus on a project that will take advantage of your services and products. For instance, landscapers may choose to create a garden area at a local school.
- Set a schedule. You may want to offer each employee one or two hours a week to work on the project, or allocate one full week a year on a large group commitment. Choose a schedule that is practical for you and helps achieve your objectives.
- Track your progress. Just like a sales goal, it’s important to make sure that your volunteer efforts are paying off. Your own success could be measured by anything from improved employee attitudes to increased publicity for your team and those you’re helping.