What is corporate volunteering?
There are many ways for a business to partner with community groups to their mutual benefit. One of these is for the company to encourage its employees to join not-for-profit groups or volunteer for community work.
There are many ways this can be achieved, including:
- Giving staff a paid day a month in which they can volunteer for an organisation of their choice (or your choice, on your preferred list)
- Have your staff join together as a team or ‘whole-business’ to volunteer for a day or an afternoon. Perhaps a project to assist in a soup kitchen, to tidy up a playground, to entertain people in an aged care facility, or marshalling at a one-off event.
- Letting your staff volunteer over the internet. Virtual volunteering is a great way to contribute in a convenient and safe way at times of low demand
- Encouraging your staff members to sit on Boards of local community organisations
- Arrange a staff secondment program
Benefits of Corporate Volunteering:
The benefits of corporate volunteering are many and varied. They include:
- Increased company pride and loyalty by staff
- Better employee attendance, recruitment and retention
- Improved staff morale, motivation, team spirit and initiative
- Enhanced workplace relationships – unique opportunities for staff to work with people from different areas and levels of their organisation
- New skill development opportunities for staff
- A more positive corporate image
- Heightened and positive recognition by customers and consumers
- New business opportunities
- Transformed relationship between the business and local community
