Five benefits of employee volunteering programs

What if planting trees, running a 5K or preparing a meal for a homeless shelter was all part of a day’s work? Employee volunteering programs give staff the chance to escape the office for a day and help out in the community. Such programs benefit employees, employers and the community. Here are five key advantages they offer.

1. Boosting morale. Employee volunteering programs provide employees with rewarding experiences, allowing them to simultaneously feel proud of themselves and their company. Teams that partake in such initiatives together become stronger and more cohesive.

2. Developing skills. Volunteering is an effective way of building leadership, teamwork, collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills.

3. Enhancing company image. Customers and clients appreciate companies that make a positive difference. Increased visibility in the community is an excellent way to encourage new business.

4. Attracting the best talent. Companies that volunteer in their community become more attractive to potential employees. This is especially true of the younger generation, who highly value volunteerism.

5. Making the community better. Whether the initiative is cleaning up litter, improving the lives of those less fortunate or making an elderly person’s day, employee volunteer programs make communities better.

When companies adopt employee volunteer programs, they reap major rewards for themselves and their employees. Making a positive impact on the community at large is just one of the many advantages of these programs.

A recent Gallup poll found that companies who took part in employee volunteering programs increased profitability by 16%, general productivity by 18% and customer loyalty by 12%.