4 Reasons Why Your Business ShouldEncourage Volunteering

Ryan Hemphill

RecruitmentIf your company wants to recruit millennials, itshould offer some sort of volunteer program.Research shows that millennials don’t volunteer asoften as previous generations. However,millennials are concerned with making a positiveimpact. They just do it differently than previousgenerations. Millennials are more likely to volunteer if theirplace of employment encourages them to do so. A volunteer program gives them an opportunity tonetwork with their peers, and a Deloitte VolunteerSurvey found that “50% of Millennial employeesthat volunteer are very loyal toward theircompany” (Haberman). Volunteer programs both attract and help retainmillennial employees.

Public RelationsA company that volunteers and promotes the factthat it volunteers scores point in the eyes of thepublic. It’s especially beneficial for customers to see thatyour company cares about the community. Volunteering is also a good way for employees tointeract with the public, explain what the businessdoes, and answer any questions. The bottom line is that volunteering is great for abusiness’ image.

Improve Employee SkillsAlthough employees work together each day,volunteering gives employees a chance to worktogether and get to know each other in a moreinformal setting. Since the stakes are lower while volunteering,employees can focus more on forming friendshipsrather than just getting work done. Giving employees the opportunity to choose anorganization and recruit colleagues to volunteer isa great way to empower employees and help themsharpen their leadership skills. This strategy allows employees to take ownershipof the volunteer project and also demonstrate theirevent planning skills.

Employee EngagementEngaged employees are happier and moreproductive employees. Volunteering helps employees feel more positiveabout their work environment, and it helps themfeel like their work has a purpose. A volunteer program is a sign that an employer hasa positive company culture. If an employer goes out of its way to help thecommunity, then it’s likely that it will go out of itsway to help its employees.