Look around your promo company – you probably have several employees who volunteer in their communities. If you created a formal volunteer program, you could help these employees give back, side by side.

Volunteering together can be a great morale booster and send engagement levels skyrocketing. Plus, when staff members roll up their sleeves outside the office, it can create meaningful bonds. It also allows you to put your company’s values into action, helping you attract even more talent.

When creating an employee volunteer program, there are some important considerations, from tracking impact to matching employee skills with volunteer opportunities. Corinn Price, the executive director for corporate citizenship at Insperity, says the first step is to talk to your employees. They’re the ones who can get your corporate social responsibility program off the ground.

What else should you consider? Read on. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share Price’s thoughts on what leaders should think about to create a meaningful volunteer program.

Decide on the causes. Find out what matters to your employees. Some might already volunteer with local nonprofits. Price says you could also ask your team if they have a social concern they want to pursue. Then, establish a team of employees who can organize events and volunteering opportunities. She says that when people have a cause that speaks to them, they’re more likely to want to get others involved.

Don’t be afraid to mix things up with your volunteer program. For example, your team could focus on a different volunteer effort each quarter. Knowing that they’ll get a chance to help with their favorite charity down the line can help boost participation, Price says.

Give plenty of options. While you can start by supporting the organizations your employees already support, you can also create company-driven community involvement opportunities. This can be helpful, Price says, when employees want to volunteer but don’t know where to start. Give your staff members some volunteer choices, like donating food to a food bank or helping out with a YMCA program.

Offer time off to volunteer, if possible. Giving your employees a few hours each month to volunteer can be a huge perk, Price says. Not only will your employees get to give back, but you’re also helping local organizations.

Recognize your company’s volunteers. People who volunteer don’t usually do it for the recognition, but you can still thank employees for making a difference. Reward them with promo or say a few kind words about them at your next staff meeting. When you do so, Price says it shows the kind of behavior that you and your company value.

With an employee volunteer program, you can create the kind of culture where employees aren’t just co-workers, they’re part of a tight-knit community making a positive impact together.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Corinn Price is the executive director for corporate citizenship at Insperity.