Volunteer Programmes are Good for Business

A happy and engaged employee equals good business for the company they work for. Research indicates that companies with high levels of employee engagement enjoy a significant increase in productivity, general well-being and job satisfaction which leads to increased profitability and stability for their company.

So, what does it take to engage your workforce and ensure a positive sentiment towards your business?

Business is changing. Studies indicate it’s being shaped by a more consciously aware generation that wants to have a positive impact on society. Gen Z and Millennials especially want the purpose of business to include addressing problems in society and they want to feel that they are making a difference to the world around them.

According to Deloitte's 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, purpose influences workplace satisfaction for 86% of Gen Zs and 89% of Millennials surveyed. These generations are increasingly willing to reject assignments or employers who don’t align with their values.

The same groups are not optimistic about the impact that the businesses they work for have on society more broadly. Less than half of Gen Zs and Millennials surveyed believe business is having a positive impact on society - this leaves a golden gap of opportunity for big businesses.

One way in which you can engage your employees and address their need for meaning or accomplishment (and to show your business is serious about making change and offsetting the negative effects your product or service may have on society) is by creating a well-managed employee volunteering programme (EVP), that benefits the community that you operate in. Volunteer programmes are perceived to add value to the recruitment, retention, training, development, loyalty and overall satisfaction of staff.

Besides the operational benefit and the feel-good factor for employees, volunteer hours can be incorporated into a company’s CSI mandate, which contributes to its BBBEE ratings. To reap the benefits of this CSI teams must keep track of volunteer hours and Cause beneficiaries.

How can companies connect to Causes?

forgood has created our platform that links Causes with individuals and groups who are looking to contribute. The platform helps businesses run a successful and innovative employee volunteering and donation programme. All Causes subscribed to forgood are vetted to ensure they meet NPO criteria. By asking for goods or services on forgood, Causes can indicate exactly what they need and individuals are able to advertise what they can offer, including specialised skills and abilities. This creates meaningful connections between the staff of a company and the social sector they choose to target. The platform also offers business functionality that allows companies to manage their internal CSI campaigns and reports on staff activity through these mechanics. For more information about how your company can benefit from the platform, reach out to us at contact@forgood.co.za.

Visit forgood, SA’s largest volunteering and donation platform.

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