Business success is no longer measured only by factors like profit maximization. Instead, organizations that truly succeed also work to engage each member of their workforce. Employee service programs, which enable employees to give back on their own time, are invaluable tools for attracting and retaining talent while distinguishing your organization from your competition.
Understanding Employee Service Programs
Employee service programs are corporate-sponsored initiatives enabling your employees to volunteer their own resources, talents, and time to the causes they care about. Your employees may choose one of two service paths:
- Giving: Charitable drives, matching grant programs or fundraising campaigns all encourage employees to donate financial resources.
- Service: Employees personally volunteer to work for specific volunteer programs or projects.
Employees are motivated to volunteer for several reasons, including their own human values and beliefs, social resources and personal goals. But according to research, employees also evaluate their organization’s intentions behind offering employee service programs before deciding to participate.
Your authenticity, honesty and commitment to fostering organizational values within your community can push interested employees toward involvement in an employee service program. As you develop your own volunteer opportunities, trusting your colleagues and your instincts will help drive positive change and support for giving back.
4 Ways Employee Service Programs Help Your Business
It isn’t just your employees or the charities they serve who benefit from employee service programs. Instead, your business also gains certain advantages:
- Easier recruitment: According to the 2016 Cone Communications Employee Engagement Study, as many as 58% of job candidates consider a company’s environmental and social commitments when considering employment. Additionally, 55% of job candidates prefer working for a socially responsible company, even if they receive less pay.
- Employee retention: The same study showed that 70% of employees are more loyal to companies that help them contribute to important issues, including social causes.
- Improved employee fulfillment: The 2016 Cone Communications Millennial Employee Engagement Study found that 74% of employees feel more fulfilled when their employer offers opportunities for them to make positive impacts.
- Differentiation from competition: 91% of consumers expect companies to responsibly address social and environmental issues.1 Businesses stand out from the competition by helping employees give back to important causes.
Steps to Starting Your Own Employee Service Program
Starting your own employee service program may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Following certain steps can help make such programs a reality, faster.
Start small
Experts at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care found that building on existing programs — instead of suddenly beginning brand-new initiatives — is the best way for your service and giving events to materialize. You can still help your company achieve its charitable goals without having to do it all at once.
Begin giving and service programs
Take an inventory of your existing volunteer opportunities, then categorize them according to whether they are giving or service programs. You can use this information to guide further decisions.
Get leadership onboard
Support from your organization’s leaders is essential for successful employee service programs. Leaders provide a unique perspective during the planning, implementation and evaluation process.
Tap your employees
Employee advisory committees provide guidance and direction for your employee service programs. Employees who volunteer can help test new ideas, get feedback and serve as ambassadors in your community.
Set goals
It may not be possible to have a full-time staff devoted to your employee service programs. But you can still ensure success by setting specific goals and deciding who within your organization is responsible for these programs.
Create processes
The policies and procedures you implement set your employee service programs up for success. It’s important to iron out specifics early in your program’s operation to help avoid potential pitfalls. Employees from various departments within your organization, including marketing, human resources and legal, can all contribute to the development of the processes.
Drive outcomes
Feedback from program participants is important for driving positive change. Measuring the impact of your programs can help you identify changes to help you achieve your goals. Try inviting feedback using surveys, internal social networks or employee advisory committee meetings.
Celebrate successes
Building employee morale is an essential part of successful employee service programs. There are many ways to celebrate your colleagues and their achievements, such as community service awards or by showcasing specific employees and their contributions on your company’s website.
Employee service programs engage your workforce while helping to better your community. Working with your employees and organizational leaders helps you develop strategies to successfully implement one — or many — service programs. For other ideas or inspiration, check out Harvard Pilgrim’s employee service and giving efforts.
Source
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Making Good Happen: a guide to building an employee service and giving program (.pdf)