WEBINAR: This conversation addresses recent changes and trends in U.S. Census data and their impact on businesses.
Employee volunteering and engagement in action with Insperity
Here at the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, we’re asked to provide insight and expertise on the complete spectrum of corporate citizenship practices. Our more than 420 member companies are interested in issues ranging from environmental impact reporting to nonprofit board placements—as well as every area in between. One issue that is consistently among the most popular topic of discussion, however, is one of the foundational elements of early CSR—employee volunteer programs. A main focus of corporate citizenship programs year-round, employee volunteer initiatives are especially popular now—during the spring and summer months—when the warmer weather offers a broader array of available activities.
The focus on employee volunteer programs is hardly surprising. Employee volunteer programs offer a myriad of benefits to both businesses and the communities they serve. Research finds that they encourage stronger employee engagement, increase retention, and better job performance. The Center’s own research supports these findings. Our 2015 Community Involvement Study finds that more than 90 percent of companies list improved employee engagement among the top three benefits of an employee volunteer program. Furthermore, companies themselves have found empirical support for the relationship between volunteering and employee engagement. Of the 60 percent of companies that measure the connection between engagement in their employee volunteer program and employee engagement, 89 percent found a positive correlation (see Figure A). During our 2016 International Corporate Citizenship Conference, held last month in Atlanta, we had the opportunity to witness the power of that engagement in action. Thanks to Insperity, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an onsite volunteer project throughout the event. As part of the company’s Stuffed Animal Project, Insperity volunteers helped participants fill and dress stuffed animals for local children in need.
The volunteers’ enthusiasm for the project was contagious, and attendees often entered their next breakout session with renewed energy and focus. Their efforts resulted in 300 stuffed animals that were donated to the WellStar Foundation and the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation.
During the event, Insperity’s Director of Community Involvement Corinn Price provided insight into the company’s stance on employee volunteering. “At Insperity, our mission is to help businesses succeed so communities prosper,” she said. “But accomplishing the first step does not mean leaving the second to chance. Instead, action is key, and through volunteerism and community leadership, Insperity encourages all employees to get involved and make a difference in the lives of others.”
To learn more about how to enhance the relationship between employee volunteer programs and engagement, be sure to check out the Community Involvement Study 2015, as well as our complete catalog of courses, including Employee Volunteer Programs with Purpose.
Related Content
RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies should be mindful of how they frame messaging around inclusion and diversity initiatives, as there are differences in how men and women respond to such messaging.
RESEARCH BRIEF - Those looking to increase participation in mentoring opportunities should tailor their programs and messaging to their audiences: Younger mentors are often motivated more by career-related objectives—such as recognition, promotion, and monetary rewards.
RESEARCH BRIEF - Older professionals are more likely to be motivated by genuine interest—rather than career advancement—when deciding whether to participate in professional development opportunities. Those looking to engage older employees in professional development should stress what can be achieved with new skills—rather than how they would bolster a resume.
RESEARCH BRIEF - When managers feel pressure to meet analyst forecasts, workplace safety may suffer. Companies experience higher worker injury rates when managers are seeking to meet or just beat earnings expectations, as compared to those that miss or comfortably beat them.
RESEARCH BRIEF - Women and non-White executives who engage in diversity-valuing behaviors tend to receive lower performance reviews than White male executives who do the same.
In this study, researchers analyzed the impact of the “diversity climate” on customer satisfaction in the stores of a large U.S. retail chain. Findings show that in these types of service environments where workers interact with customers, respect and appreciation for diversity are correlated with increased customer satisfaction.
Researchers studied what drains worker energy on the job and the strategies employed to recharge. Findings from the study indicate that rather than coffee or a quick break, strategies related to learning, finding meaning in work and building positive relationships on the job are most effective for restoring vitality.