Is your company or business looking for a way to create a culture of engagement? If so, one approach you should consider is volunteer opportunities for your team or employee volunteer programs (EVPs). One of the best ways to bring people together and increase productivity is to create human-to-human opportunities.
Our team at Funds2Orgs and Sneakers4Good is privileged to see volunteer opportunities in action every day. Both brands are leaders in the shoe and sneaker reuse movement. The programs for each brand involve people disposing of footwear in a way that’s sustainable. In return, there are benefits for their teams, communities, the planet and people.
We’ve seen about 30,000 partners do good in their communities between the two brands. They’ve collected and gathered unneeded sneakers and shoes. Many people participating in the programs are team members from businesses and organizations volunteering their time for the effort. In turn, there’s a lot of feel-good that comes from EVPs.
Benefits of Employee Volunteer Programs
When a company or business offers its team volunteer opportunities, a lot of pluses happen for the organization.
1. Elevate Employee Morale and Job Satisfaction
One of the best things people can do for themselves is to help others. Many of us know that generosity is great for our well-being. Therefore, when companies and organizations ask their teams to make a social impact, they offer people an opportunity to find purpose. The fact of the matter is that purpose-driven work leads to higher job satisfaction.
2. Enhancing Cohesion and Collaboration
Something I see with my team is that purpose-driven work improves teamwork. For instance, our team knows their work matters. We’re literally providing opportunities for communities to come together for themselves and the planet. In turn, we have a cohesive work culture, and others see it. All companies can create a purposeful culture for their teams.
3. Attracting and Retaining Top Talent for Teams
Companies that show social responsibility through volunteer opportunities or other means stand out. Every leader and manager wants to hire and retain top talent. No matter what a business does, it can create opportunities for teams, allowing people to align work with their values. And that’s a win because people want to stay on those teams.
4. Boosting Business Reputation and Customer Loyalty
When companies provide volunteer opportunities, they enhance their public image. It’s that simple. I’ve learned so much in my social entrepreneurship journey. Still, one of the biggest lessons is that many of our partners want to partner with us precisely because we care about social issues. In turn, it’s made a marked difference in our business brand loyalty.
5. Developing Skills and Leadership for Teams
There’s another great benefit to companies that create EVP programs. EVPs allow potential leaders to rise to the surface. With volunteering, there are several skills team leaders must master, including project management and problem-solving. Those are the same skills any organization needs to excel in its industry.
Implementing an Effective Employee Volunteer Program
As a social entrepreneur, I’ve been fortunate to see how doing social good can benefit business. Our brands are the leaders in the reuse economy because people trust our team. As a result, we can partner with organizations, including the Boston Marathon and its volunteer teams, to make the world a better place. So, if you’re considering volunteer opportunities for your team, the next question is, how? Here’s how.
- Align Volunteerism with Business Values. The first place to start is to ensure that corporate social responsibility and social good are part of the company’s core values. The fact is that companies need to walk the walk and not just talk.
- Create a Team Social Good Committee. The next step is to create an ad hoc team to survey employees and create a plan to implement. The best approach to creating volunteer opportunities is to give teams a sense of ownership.
- Incentivize Volunteerism. If people haven’t ever volunteered, they might see it as a chore until they realize the personal rewards. So, it’s essential to incentivize it with challenges, company rewards, and recognition.
- Measure and Communicate Impact: To ensure your team embraces volunteerism, measure the impact. For instance, how many volunteer hours were provided per quarter? How many people were helped? What was accomplished? Share the news!
Volunteer Opportunities Make a Difference
Americans are good people who care about their communities. I see it, as does my team, every day through our work. We know that we’re experiencing a time of great innovation in business and technology. Companies can demonstrate leadership and set themselves apart by adding volunteer opportunities to their day-to-day activities. Moreover, teams can unite for the business and their hometowns through social good initiatives.
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