Employee engagement plays a critical role in the success of any company, no matter what size or industry. As we enter the last quarter of the year, now is the perfect time to increase staff engagement by offering a way for them to give back to the community. Employee giving programs address many factors that contribute to a happy and engaged staff, and corporate philanthropy has been shown to reduce turnover.
If you want to build a successful employee giving program at your workplace, here are a few suggestions and ideas to get started.
Make it meaningful. What cause matters most to your employees? There are lots of organizations doing good work in the community, from empowering marginalized populations to protecting the environment. Once you know what your workers are passionate about, you can identify which nonprofit you would like to support. Another option is looking at your mission as a company and identifying a nonprofit that aligns with your corporate values. Here at Eloquest Healthcare, we have a strong partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (© RMHC).
Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family. Adding a financial strain can make it all almost too much to bear. RMHC can help address those problems, whether they involve housing near a hospitalized child, the expense of staying together in another city, or even getting basic medical and dental care in a vulnerable community. RMHC has local Chapters in more than 64 countries and regions. Our home office staff volunteers at the local RMHC in Detroit, Michigan, and our field-based employees have been able to build relationships with their local chapters throughout the country as well.
Eloquest Healthcare’s products support strategies that prevent healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), provide better outcomes, higher quality and lower healthcare costs. By partnering with RMHC – an organization dedicated to providing stability and resources for families everywhere – our relationship lends the perfect opportunity to engage our employees in community service that speaks to their industry and interests.
Host a collection drive. Ask employees to bring donated goods to the office, or host a collection drive event. In-kind donations of goods are critical for many local nonprofits, especially in the winter, when there is an increased need for essential clothing items like coats, blankets, socks, and food for holiday meals. There are many items that make a difference year-round, like hygiene products, home goods, or school supplies. Hosting a collection drive allows employees to engage and give back even when time may be limited. Collection drives also present an opportunity to host in-office events like lunch-time gift-wrapping parties, drop-off events, or in-office fundraisers such as ‘Casual Friday for a Cause’.
Volunteer as a group. Get your team out of the office and spend a few hours volunteering together. Like many non-profit organizations, local Ronald McDonald House Charities needs volunteer groups to serve meals and assist with other small in-house tasks. Find a local food bank, soup kitchen, animal shelter, or other organization that has a need for daily groups of volunteers. By offering opportunities like this, you demonstrate your commitment to the community, your employees, and the culture of your company.
No two successful employee volunteering programs are the same. Success is dependent on connecting employees with the causes they care about and the organizations that can truly benefit from volunteers. Increasing employee engagement isn’t always easy, but employee volunteer programs are one of the most effective ways to enrich your company’s culture and build a legacy of giving back that positively impacts both your employees and the community.
