Employee volunteerism is not a new concept. More
and more companies are recognizing the value that
providing service opportunities to employees brings
to the company, the employees themselves and, of
course, communities across the globe.
What is an Employee Volunteer Program (EVP)?
An Employee Volunteer Program (EVP) is defined as a planned, managed effort that
seeks to motivate and enable employees to effectively serve community needs through the
leadership of the employer. EVPs, also called workplace volunteer programs or employer supported
volunteer programs, are typically one component of a company’s corporate social
responsibility (CSR) program, community engagement program (CEP), or other program
that addresses the company’s involvement in societal causes.
Why are EVP programs important?
Gone are the days when employee volunteerism was thought of as fluff, an afterthought, or a
nice gesture. Research shows that employee volunteerism has many advantages including:
• Improves corporate image and relations with stakeholders through positioning as a leader
in giving back at the local and national level.
• Develops and enhances employees’ professional and leadership skills.
• Supports specific business functions, most often in the areas of human resources and external relations.
In recent years we’ve seen a steady rise in the quantity and scale of corporate volunteer programs in the U.S. After gaining considerable momentum during the global recession as a fiscally responsible way for companies to supplement and expand upon their existing community giving initiatives, employee volunteerism has become a mainstream business practice. According to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, in 2012 70 percent of companies enabled employees to volunteer with nonprofit organizations during paid working hours. This represents a 17 percent jump since 2007, prior to the recession.
As the economy recovers, we might expect companies to revert back to conventional giving strategies that are easier to coordinate and execute. But in fact the opposite is happening: employee volunteerism is becoming more prevalent. Why? Because it’s a mutually beneficial and sustainable option for companies, nonprofit organizations, individual employees and most importantly, those in need.
Employee volunteerism is an effective way for companies to get involved in local communities, build relationships, support recruitment and retention, and strengthen their internal culture. Deloitte’s volunteerism survey found that most HR executives believe volunteerism has a positive impact on an organization’s reputation, and that it’s both valued by and benefits employees. According to a study from Net Impact and Rutgers University, employees who say they have an opportunity to make a direct social and environmental impact at work report higher satisfaction levels than those who don’t, by a two-to-one ratio.
Companies that are considering launching skills-based volunteerism programs should consider a few best practices: support multiple causes that align with the company’s business objectives and employee interests to broaden the scope of impact; keep projects going year-round with the same nonprofit partners to build strong alliances; and quantify the dollar value of employee efforts to support communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Employee engagement is central to this effort, and there’s also increasing evidence that corporate volunteerism programs can benefit employees on a personal level. According to a United Health Group study, three-quarters of people who reported volunteering in the past 12 months said that doing so made them feel physically healthier. And there’s an even stronger connection between volunteering and mental/emotional health. Volunteers score higher than non-volunteers on nine established measures of emotional wellbeing including personal independence, capacity for rich interpersonal relationships and overall satisfaction with their lives.
Check out Compensation Solutions Employees Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Paterson http://blog.csihro.com/index.php/2014/10/09/habitat-for-humanity-paterson/
