Giving Compass' Take:

• Corporate volunteerism programs can help advance employee engagement because involvement in CSR programs at work has proven benefits. 

• What are some exemplary CSR programs today? How is your company engaging employees in corporate volunteerism? 

• Read about the future and trends of corporate social responsibility.

Consistently engaging your employees can be tough so if you’re struggling to get your team focused and prioritized, you’re not alone. It’s actually an issue all across the country. 2018 Gallup statistics reveal only 34% of American workers felt engaged in their work, with 53% feeling no connection to their work or workplace. And with the changing workforce landscape, it’s becoming increasingly clear that new tactics are needed to ensure employees are productive, and subsequently care about their output.

Linkedin’s Workplace Culture Trends found 46% of professionals surveyed felt proudest to work for companies that “have a positive impact on society.” Achieve’s retrospective Millennial Impact Report noted ten years of data showing that more and more millennials believe in causes rather than institutions, the majority believe they have the ability to make a positive change in the world, and most respond strongly to peer influence.

So how do you engage your workers and nurture your business?

You’ll need to adopt activities that strengthen soft skills, contribute to the values of your corporate culture, and build team relationships. The proven ROI of CSR, particularly the value of corporate volunteerism, shows us that you can achieve these results with CSR programs. CSR programs empower employees with the ability to create a positive impact on communities via volunteering and giving strategies. For millennials (the largest generation in the labor force, by the way), being changemakers is an important social motivator in their lives, so this solution is attractive to the growing group.

Volunteering isn’t really just about giving back to employees, either.

In our experience recruiting volunteers, we’ve come across full-time professionals looking to brush up on skills or learn about responsibilities in a new position while impacting a cause they believe in. Many are eager to use their experience volunteering in their field, and often that experience makes them more qualified.

Read the full article about corporate volunteerism by Sonia Nzongo at VolunteerMatch.