What do volunteers do to your workplace?
Workplace culture is extremely important in businesses. We’re not just talking about fun activities and events such as casual Fridays and happy hours. At the heart of this, workplace culture is about how people feel when they start working every day. Are they worth it, listened, and motivated? Or do they feel like they have to drag themselves out on their work days? Surprisingly, workplace volunteering can actually help you build a strong corporate culture. how? Volunteering gives employees the opportunity to make a real impact and connect with their colleagues in meaningful ways.
Workplace volunteering has become popular with millennials and Gen Z employees. They want their company to support something greater than profit. Almost half of millennials and Gen Z workers said they would quit their jobs within two years if the company’s values do not match them. It should encourage businesses to provide volunteer opportunities, and fortunately, most people do. After all, when staff contribute to causes close to heart, they develop skills and develop relationships with their peers. This increases employee engagement, increases job satisfaction and increases loyalty. That’s an advantage for everyone. Explore some of the benefits of volunteering at work and show how to incorporate them into your company culture.
Three volunteer perks to prove its value
1. Improve morale
Work can be repeated from time to time, and volunteering can be a great change. When employees take a break from their work to help others, they change the pace and start looking at things more proactively. Employees leave a sense of volunteerism that is achieved and appreciated, and with a sense of purpose. Needless to say, the boost is not temporary. Research shows that volunteers can lower stress levels, reduce burnout feelings, and increase overall happiness. And people are more resilient as they return to work with a positive mindset, face challenges and are ready to be more productive.
2. Building a better team
Volunteers break down the barriers of normal workplaces. When leaders, managers and employees work side by side for good purposes, the title and position of the job is just a group of people who give back to the community. These shared experiences create genuine, deep connections as people begin to see each other’s strengths, empathy and problem-solving abilities. Volunteering also promotes communication and teamwork in collaborative and low-pressure environments.
3. Creating an empathetic culture
Employees develop empathy when they step out of their daily lives and work with people from a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, or communities. Suddenly, work issues and other concerns look minor compared to what’s happening around us. Volunteers create natural opportunities for people to learn about lives that may be very different from their own. And when employees bring those experiences back to the workplace, they will have more compassion and open mind and create a more inclusive environment where differences are respected.
How to integrate volunteers into workplace culture
Involve the leader
If leadership doesn’t care about volunteering, then employees don’t. Cultural change starts with what leaders prioritize and, if they start practicing volunteering, the rest of the organization continues. So how can a leader do this? It simply shows up, even if the volunteer activities are small. Better yet, leaders can encourage employees to share the causes they want to help, and companies can organize volunteer activities based on these suggestions. This type of support makes employees feel viewed and valued not only as workers but as people with passion and concern.
Volunteer vacation
Work and life can be busy, and people don’t always have time to devote their working hours to volunteer. That’s where volunteer vacations (VTOs) come into play. By providing special leave for volunteering, businesses grant employees permission to contribute to the cause of concern without sacrificing working hours. Furthermore, this shows that the company is truly valuing its social impact. Some companies offer one or two days a year, while others offer more. Ultimately, most importantly, establish clear guidelines and make the program easier for employees to access.
Partners with local NGOs
If you really want to build a culture that has lasting impact and meaning, focus on building long-term partnerships with local nonprofits. Why is it local? These are organizations that make a big difference to the communities in which employees live and work. At the same time, local partnerships create more opportunities for activities, including quarterly volunteer events, co-awareness campaigns and ongoing fundraising support. The key is to find the cause tailored to the value of the company and the passion of the employees.
Organize company-wide volunteer days
One of the most enjoyable ways to make workplace volunteering a part of your culture is through company-wide volunteer day. These events allow employees from all levels and departments to gather outside the office and contribute to something big. The best part? Volunteer days often lead to connections. For example, your CFO may team up with a marketing manager who works with a junior developer or someone on the customer service team. To make these days a success, we offer options to ensure that all people choose comprehensive and accessible activities and employees can choose what they resonate with.
Try out skill-based volunteer activities
Sometimes the most meaningful job comes when employees use their professional skills to help nonprofits solve real challenges. This is called skill-based volunteering and is a rewarding way for employees to give back. For example, marketing teams can help nonprofits redesign their websites and launch social media campaigns. Skill-based volunteers feel that nonprofits benefit everyone as they get quality jobs that they otherwise can’t afford, and that employees use their talent to make a real difference.
Participation in rewards
Finally, awareness is important. People want to know that their efforts are aware and appreciated. When you celebrate your employees’ contributions to volunteering, you encourage them even more. The reward doesn’t need to be large. You can share volunteer activities on LinkedIn, scream during team meetings, win the annual “Volunteer of the Year” award, or give each employee an extra day each time they participate in a workplace volunteer work. The more you celebrate, the more you want employees to be involved.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about volunteering at work, make it natural. Maybe you start with a small activity and then move on to a larger activity. However, don’t forget to be consistent. Over time, you create a culture where people feel connected, motivated and proud of where they work. It spreads across your team, your community, and the world, creating lasting impact. If volunteers aren’t part of your business goals, that should definitely be the case.
