Redefine your approach to your corporate volunteer programs
Chezuba
July 16, 2022
Employee volunteering programs have to face a new challenge: when given the chance, the majority of employees choose not to participate in their corporate volunteering programs.
Let's review some data from recent times - as of 2021, 89 percent of surveyed companies have an employee volunteering program, according to the most recent CECP Giving in Numbers Report. But according to the same survey, only 17% of people participate in these programs. Compare these statistics to a study by Deloitte, which discovered that 77% of employees believed that volunteering was crucial for employee wellbeing.
Employees think it is a good idea to volunteer. But the majority aren't participating. This has become a paradoxical problem that we will address in the article along with a few tips to combat the situation.
A crucial aspect of a company's mission and employee development that is frequently overlooked is meaningful volunteer opportunities. Organizations frequently attempt to create volunteer programs for employees as a sort of optional leisure time activity and not as a program that employees can incorporate into their daily work lives.
This is one of the major reasons why there is such a disparity between the number of employees who want to be involved in the company’s employee-giving strategies. Business leaders fail to take into account the entire end-to-end experience from the viewpoint of the employees, by including the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of volunteering.
It's important to meet employees where they are, remove any obstacles in their way of getting involved, and establish a foundation for serious discussion when developing an effective employee volunteering program. Here's how you can construct (or redesign) your program to allow for a real change and increased employee engagement.
Taking a transformational approach to your employee engagement programs
To begin with, Chris Jarvis, co-founder, and chief strategy officer of Realized Worth, proposes that corporates switch to a transformative approach as opposed to the traditional transactional one being used. What distinguishes a transformative volunteer experience from a transactional one? The goal of the transformative approach, according to Jarvis, is to provide participants with "an experience that they carry with them for the rest of their lives."
Transactional volunteer experience would mean:
When you design your volunteer programs based on a transactional approach, your employees might render their volunteer work no different from their regular jobs. This is because their tasks are quantitative and dependent on the output generated. For eg., the number of articles written or the number of hours worked.
Here the employee is prompted to focus on completing the task rather than diving deep into how their work is helping the organization they are volunteering for. There is no learning involved but just a task being performed routinely, thus, the employees don't feel connected to the cause and we don't see any personal growth among those who are volunteering. This observation may discourage others from taking part in the program.
Transformational volunteer experience would mean:
A transformative approach would be where the primary goal of the program is not just about completing the tasks at hand but understanding the impact the project will generate and for whom. These questions when answered will allow employees to rethink their approach to life and how they might want to live it.
To drive home what your employees have learned during their journey as a volunteer, Jarvis suggests posing these questions to them upon completion of their projects:
What did you experience?
Was it what you expected?
To increase the impact of your program, allow your volunteers to have a dialogue with those they are helping. A real-time understanding of the hardships these beneficiaries face and the value that their work is adding to their lives can be a great way to motivate your employees. Don't be surprised if they go above and beyond in their volunteer work.
As a result of a transformative volunteer program, many employees return to their workplace with a fresh feeling of purpose and a more compassionate attitude toward their coworkers and clients after seeing this new perspective.
How to create a transformation-supporting employee volunteer program in 6 simple steps
Creating a successful employee volunteer program involves giving participants the mechanism and incentive they need to grow if they so want. Some folks won't. However, the impact can be significant for those that do. Here’s how you can set up a transformative volunteer program:
Keep your employees in mind
The fact of the matter is that your employees are the ones who will be participating in the program regardless of who designs the employee volunteer program. So, if your employees do not feel connected to it, they might not want to be involved.
Communicate with employees before developing your program. let them contribute ideas, you can host a live or online forum, conduct an anonymous survey, or both. Not only will this increase employee engagement, but also hearing their opinions will enable you to design a program that focuses on their objectives.
Keep your communication visible and crisp
Your employee volunteer program should communicate all the crucial details of the program to the volunteers. Information such as:
The duration of the project.
A brief description of the project, the organization that has posted the project, and the beneficiaries of their aid.
In case there are specific skills involved, what they might be, and if there is a qualifying criterion for a specific project.
A road map from start to finish will give the volunteers a better understanding of what's required of them.
Make sure the placement of this information is clear and visible. Have posters communicating the event or send out announcements on your internal communication channels.
Involve your employees
You will likely lose participants to your volunteer program even before you launch it if your employees feel that it is just another top-down campaign that ignores their opinions. Democratizing the experience not only boosts participation but also enables you to make use of any existing connections your employees may have with NGOs. Let's say one of your employees already lends a helping hand at a nearby shelter. Allow them to submit a volunteer project that makes use of the rapport they have established with the organization. Additionally, they can send out direct invitations to their coworkers to join them, providing a social component that could raise program engagement.
Answer the ‘Why’
As a volunteer, what they do, such as packing meals or designing posters might not matter as much as why they are doing those tasks. You must organize your corporate volunteer program in such a way that it answers the question of ‘why’. Volunteers would be way more active when they know the reason behind the work they are doing and the impact their actions will have. This way they will have a clear purpose and will feel much more connected to the cause.
Make time to discuss how volunteer work benefits certain individuals. Statistics can be used to emphasize a point. By doing this, you can capitalize on the feel-good effects of helping others, or the "helper's high."
Set up the right tool
Select a platform for volunteering that is interesting and simple to use. Employees should be able to access one location to view available opportunities, sign up, obtain the crucial information they require and monitor their VTO. They are much less likely to remain involved if they have to sift through email threads or switch between HR platforms and spreadsheets.
Integrating technology into your volunteer program will not only make it easy for your employees but also for you. You can manage all your employee's activities from one place and keep updated about their progress.
Gather feedback
At the end of the day, schedule some time for reflection. Inquire about what your employees found surprising or difficult about volunteering. Additionally, you might take this time to ask them for their opinions on the procedure. If they could change anything, what would it be? Try your best to address any issues they raise and include practical solutions. Employee commitment and engagement are far more likely to remain high if your program is receptive to feedback.
To conclude
As a business leader, one of the major requirements that all your stakeholders, employees, and customer segments alike have is for you to have a CSR program. But having a corporate volunteering program and none of your employees participating won't serve your purpose. By implementing the above-mentioned methods of creating a transformational employee volunteer program, you will be creating a space for your employees to go through exciting and life-changing experiences should they choose to.
Chezuba is a corporate volunteering platform that allows for such transformational volunteering programs. You can avail of customized dashboards that capture all the necessary data, along with Gamified, personalized, and diverse volunteering opportunities for your team. Book a free demo to learn more.
Explore how corporate volunteering boosts employee engagement and mental health this World Mental Health Day.
July 16, 2022
Redefine your approach to your corporate volunteer programs
This article discusses the importance of creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for employees and 6 ways to improve the number of employees who participate in these programs.
Employee volunteering programs have to face a new challenge: when given the chance, the majority of employees choose not to participate in their corporate volunteering programs.
Let's review some data from recent times - as of 2021, 89 percent of surveyed companies have an employee volunteering program, according to the most recent CECP Giving in Numbers Report. But according to the same survey, only 17% of people participate in these programs. Compare these statistics to a study by Deloitte, which discovered that 77% of employees believed that volunteering was crucial for employee wellbeing.
Employees think it is a good idea to volunteer. But the majority aren't participating. This has become a paradoxical problem that we will address in the article along with a few tips to combat the situation.
A crucial aspect of a company's mission and employee development that is frequently overlooked is meaningful volunteer opportunities. Organizations frequently attempt to create volunteer programs for employees as a sort of optional leisure time activity and not as a program that employees can incorporate into their daily work lives.
This is one of the major reasons why there is such a disparity between the number of employees who want to be involved in the company’s employee-giving strategies. Business leaders fail to take into account the entire end-to-end experience from the viewpoint of the employees, by including the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of volunteering.
It's important to meet employees where they are, remove any obstacles in their way of getting involved, and establish a foundation for serious discussion when developing an effective employee volunteering program. Here's how you can construct (or redesign) your program to allow for a real change and increased employee engagement.
Taking a transformational approach to your employee engagement programs
To begin with, Chris Jarvis, co-founder, and chief strategy officer of Realized Worth, proposes that corporates switch to a transformative approach as opposed to the traditional transactional one being used. What distinguishes a transformative volunteer experience from a transactional one? The goal of the transformative approach, according to Jarvis, is to provide participants with "an experience that they carry with them for the rest of their lives."
Transactional volunteer experience would mean:
When you design your volunteer programs based on a transactional approach, your employees might render their volunteer work no different from their regular jobs. This is because their tasks are quantitative and dependent on the output generated. For eg., the number of articles written or the number of hours worked.
Here the employee is prompted to focus on completing the task rather than diving deep into how their work is helping the organization they are volunteering for. There is no learning involved but just a task being performed routinely, thus, the employees don't feel connected to the cause and we don't see any personal growth among those who are volunteering. This observation may discourage others from taking part in the program.
Transformational volunteer experience would mean:
A transformative approach would be where the primary goal of the program is not just about completing the tasks at hand but understanding the impact the project will generate and for whom. These questions when answered will allow employees to rethink their approach to life and how they might want to live it.
To drive home what your employees have learned during their journey as a volunteer, Jarvis suggests posing these questions to them upon completion of their projects:
What did you experience?
Was it what you expected?
To increase the impact of your program, allow your volunteers to have a dialogue with those they are helping. A real-time understanding of the hardships these beneficiaries face and the value that their work is adding to their lives can be a great way to motivate your employees. Don't be surprised if they go above and beyond in their volunteer work.
As a result of a transformative volunteer program, many employees return to their workplace with a fresh feeling of purpose and a more compassionate attitude toward their coworkers and clients after seeing this new perspective.
How to create a transformation-supporting employee volunteer program in 6 simple steps
Creating a successful employee volunteer program involves giving participants the mechanism and incentive they need to grow if they so want. Some folks won't. However, the impact can be significant for those that do. Here’s how you can set up a transformative volunteer program:
Keep your employees in mind
The fact of the matter is that your employees are the ones who will be participating in the program regardless of who designs the employee volunteer program. So, if your employees do not feel connected to it, they might not want to be involved.
Communicate with employees before developing your program. let them contribute ideas, you can host a live or online forum, conduct an anonymous survey, or both. Not only will this increase employee engagement, but also hearing their opinions will enable you to design a program that focuses on their objectives.
Keep your communication visible and crisp
Your employee volunteer program should communicate all the crucial details of the program to the volunteers. Information such as:
The duration of the project.
A brief description of the project, the organization that has posted the project, and the beneficiaries of their aid.
In case there are specific skills involved, what they might be, and if there is a qualifying criterion for a specific project.
A road map from start to finish will give the volunteers a better understanding of what's required of them.
Make sure the placement of this information is clear and visible. Have posters communicating the event or send out announcements on your internal communication channels.
Involve your employees
You will likely lose participants to your volunteer program even before you launch it if your employees feel that it is just another top-down campaign that ignores their opinions. Democratizing the experience not only boosts participation but also enables you to make use of any existing connections your employees may have with NGOs. Let's say one of your employees already lends a helping hand at a nearby shelter. Allow them to submit a volunteer project that makes use of the rapport they have established with the organization. Additionally, they can send out direct invitations to their coworkers to join them, providing a social component that could raise program engagement.
Answer the ‘Why’
As a volunteer, what they do, such as packing meals or designing posters might not matter as much as why they are doing those tasks. You must organize your corporate volunteer program in such a way that it answers the question of ‘why’. Volunteers would be way more active when they know the reason behind the work they are doing and the impact their actions will have. This way they will have a clear purpose and will feel much more connected to the cause.
Make time to discuss how volunteer work benefits certain individuals. Statistics can be used to emphasize a point. By doing this, you can capitalize on the feel-good effects of helping others, or the "helper's high."
Set up the right tool
Select a platform for volunteering that is interesting and simple to use. Employees should be able to access one location to view available opportunities, sign up, obtain the crucial information they require and monitor their VTO. They are much less likely to remain involved if they have to sift through email threads or switch between HR platforms and spreadsheets.
Integrating technology into your volunteer program will not only make it easy for your employees but also for you. You can manage all your employee's activities from one place and keep updated about their progress.
Gather feedback
At the end of the day, schedule some time for reflection. Inquire about what your employees found surprising or difficult about volunteering. Additionally, you might take this time to ask them for their opinions on the procedure. If they could change anything, what would it be? Try your best to address any issues they raise and include practical solutions. Employee commitment and engagement are far more likely to remain high if your program is receptive to feedback.
To conclude
As a business leader, one of the major requirements that all your stakeholders, employees, and customer segments alike have is for you to have a CSR program. But having a corporate volunteering program and none of your employees participating won't serve your purpose. By implementing the above-mentioned methods of creating a transformational employee volunteer program, you will be creating a space for your employees to go through exciting and life-changing experiences should they choose to.
Chezuba is a corporate volunteering platform that allows for such transformational volunteering programs. You can avail of customized dashboards that capture all the necessary data, along with Gamified, personalized, and diverse volunteering opportunities for your team. Book a free demo to learn more.
Together, we can create a world where no one is denied the chance to gain literacy skills. Let’s stand united in promoting education for all and commit to actions that drive lasting change.
Good corporate citizenship is a must, not a nice one to have. It's a "must-have" if you want your business to stay accountable, successful, and competitive. Employee engagement is boosted by strong corporate citizenship, and when we're all engaged, good things happen.
Employee engagement is a critical factor that directly impacts a company's productivity, retention, and overall success. The statistics we've highlighted not only shed light on the current state of employee engagement but also underscore the pressing need for organizations to prioritize it.
Chezuba can play a crucial role in this journey by providing personalized volunteering opportunities that align with employees' skills and passions, further enhancing their engagement and connection to the company's mission.
Celebrating the 4th of July at work is an excellent way to build team spirit, promote a sense of community, and acknowledge the significance of independence.
Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal of nature conservation. This World Nature Conservation Day, take a step towards making a difference. Whether through volunteering, adopting sustainable habits, or supporting conservation efforts, your commitment can help protect and preserve our planet for future generations. Together, we can create a more sustainable and thriving world.
Celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day through corporate volunteering is a powerful way to honour Mandela’s legacy and contribute to social change. By engaging in diverse and impactful activities, companies can create meaningful experiences for their employees, strengthen community ties, and make a lasting difference.
Together, we can create a world where no child is robbed of their childhood. Let’s stand united against child labor and commit to actions that drive lasting change.
World Environment Day offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the fight against environmental degradation. By volunteering, you not only support critical conservation efforts but also gain personal benefits such as new skills, improved well-being, and strengthened community ties.
By building strong internal support, companies can harness the full potential of their CSR programs, creating a better future for their employees, communities, and the planet.
Read the article to learn how empowering employees in corporate volunteering programs fosters a sense of purpose among employees and significantly improves retention rates.
Implementing these strategies can help companies not only achieve their corporate citizenship goals but also create positive social and environmental impacts while driving long-term business success. By embracing responsibility, fostering inclusivity, and collaborating effectively, businesses can contribute meaningfully to societal well-being while enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the market.
May Day is a day to reflect on the progress made in labor rights, honor workers' contributions, and celebrate unity within organizations. By incorporating these engaging and meaningful activities into your May Day celebrations, you create a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
Engaging employee giving and employee volunteering activities on World Health Day can foster a culture of well-being and employee satisfaction. Read the article to learn more.
By going along with these trends, companies can help make the future more sustainable and become leaders in their fields. As time goes on, it is important to stay committed to business social responsibility and work toward making the world fair and prosperous for everyone.
The emergence of employee volunteering and engagement as prominent trends in CSR reflects a broader shift towards more holistic and inclusive approaches to corporate social responsibility.
Virtual volunteering offers a number of benefits for both volunteers and nonprofits. Read the article to learn more about the future of Nonprofit support in the USA.
Read our in-depth blog post about the significant advantages of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) as a Corporate Social Responsibility tool and how it helps both workers and employers.
In this evolving world of businesses, employee engagement is more important than ever. Read the blog to learn about the evolving trends and its significance in business growth.
Running a company is hard. But it’s not just the business you have to handle, employee satisfaction also matters a lot. The employee giving program can help you with this aspect.
Studies have shown that businesses with strong corporate CSR programs can build deeper connections with employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
Corporate social responsibility is a form of self-regulation that reflects a company's accountability and commitment to the well-being of society through environmental and social measures. It plays an important role in brand perception, appealing to employees, customers, and investors alike.
This article is designed to help you understand the modern employee and how to create a workplace that is conducive to their personal and professional growth.
This article is about the importance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the volunteer opportunities that are available to people with disabilities.
We address the increasing importance of employee purpose and have also attempted to explain how your leadership team can make adjustments to integrate meaningful work as part of your company culture.
Concept notes are one of the first steps to take when trying to secure funding for your projects. We have listed out what a concept note is, its importance, and tips to draft a great concept note.
10th of October of every year is as World Mental Health Day by the WHO but your employees' mental health matters all year round. We have listed a few changes you can make to your organization to cater to the mental health needs of your employees.
This report provides an analysis of the current state of the global workplace and the impact of the pandemic on productivity and how the term “productivity paranoia” came about.
Here’s a brief overview of what diversity and inclusion are and why it is a must for your organization. This blog will be most resourceful to aid you in creating and maintaining diversity in your workplace.
Companies can aid society, engage remote employees in developing their skills, and even improve brand reputation by fostering a culture of giving through virtual volunteering.
Employees are typically the backbone of any firm, and a firm's success depends on the well-being of its employees. Discover how you can properly support your employees' mental health.
As we go about your daily operations, we are bound to hit few snags. Finding a quick fix to these issues can help in the short run, but the most viable solution is to focus on finding the root problem and address it. Let's learn how using the 5 Whys Tool.
This article is meant to give you an idea of the benefits of corporate social responsibility. It will give you an idea of how to implement it into your business and how to reap the benefits for years to come.
In this article, we discuss why employees are leaving the workplace increasingly to focus on their mental health and a few changes you can make to your workplace to combat this issue.
This article is an introduction to the concept of corporate citizenship and how it relates to business. It explains what it means to be a good corporate citizen and how it can be applied to your business.
By measuring the impact your nonprofit creates, you will be able to provide your donors with transparency and the knowledge of how they are able to help make a difference in the world. Learn how with this article.
This article discusses the need for organizations to bridge the skills gap in today's economy. It discusses the current pandemic and how it has widened the existing skills gap, and how organizations can use the pandemic to their advantage.
This article is meant to give you a better understanding of how volunteering for a nonprofit can be a great way to use your skills to help those in need in your community.
Corporate philanthropy is a great way to get your employees to get more involved in their communities and to help them feel more connected to their work.
This article discusses the benefits of volunteering, and how it can be a transformative experience and a great way to connect with people and interact with new people.
This blog shows you how to keep track of your corporate volunteering program and evaluate its impact. It is essential to keep a record of your program's progress and evaluate it based on the results you get.
In this blog, we will discuss what virtual volunteering is, how it works, the pros of volunteering virtually and how you can become a virtual volunteer.
This article talks about the importance of a board of directors for nonprofits, the benefits of having a board of directors, and their roles and responsibilities.
This article is about virtual corporate volunteering ideas that can be executed by your organization to engage employees and also support nonprofits and charities.
This article explains how employee purpose is a key factor in a better workforce, and how you can help your employees find it through your CSR strategies.
This article is about the benefits of having a business volunteering program. It is a great way to get your employees involved in the community and to get them to give their hundred percent to their work.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the best practices that can be implemented to create successful international corporate volunteering programs.
This blog has discussed 6 easy steps to organize a successful company volunteer day. By following these steps, you will be able to ensure that your company's volunteer day will be a huge success.
This blog will give you a basic understanding of corporate philanthropy. It is important to understand what corporate philanthropy is and why your company should choose it as a part of your CSR strategy.
This article will discuss the Logframe technique and its application in project planning. It will also discuss the structure of the Logical Framework and its various components.
This article discusses how you can incorporate virtual volunteering into your corporate social responsibility strategy. It shows you how to create a virtual volunteering program that is aligned with your company's values and aligns with your CSR strategy.
This blog gives you an idea of how volunteering can help you advance your career and help you gain valuable work experience, showcase your skills and knowledge, and help you explore new career opportunities.
This article contains some fun ideas to celebrate Earth Day in your workplace. Earth Day is an annual celebration of the environmental movement's accomplishments and a reminder of the significance of long-term ecological sustainability.
This article discusses how technology is making corporate volunteering easier and more accessible for companies to use and incorporate into their CSR programs.
Here's how Chezuba connects you with incredible online volunteers who can help you engage and persuade your stakeholders to take action by creating compelling content.
window.cookieconsent.initialise({
"palette": {
"popup": {
"background": "#25305e"
},
"button": {
"background": "#14a7d0"
}
},
"theme": "classic",
"content": {
"message": "We use cookies to optimize your experience. Don't worry! We NEVER sell your data",
"dismiss": "Got it!",
"link": "Learn more",
"href": "https://app.chezuba.net/Home/PrivacyPolicy/"
}
});
var modal = document.getElementById("myModal");
// Get the form container within the modal
var formContainer = document.querySelector(
".book-demo-modal .form-container"
);
// Get the button that opens the modal
var btns = document.getElementsByClassName("book-demo-link");
// When the user clicks the button, open the modal
for (var i = 0; i < btns.length; i++) {
btns[i].onclick = function () {
modal.style.display = "block";
document.body.style.overflow = "hidden";
};
}
// When the user clicks anywhere outside of the form-container, close it
modal.onclick = function (event) {
modal.style.display = "none";
document.body.style.overflow = "auto"; // allow background to scroll again
};
// Stop propagation of the click event from the form-container to the modal
formContainer.onclick = function (event) {
event.stopPropagation();
};