What is your company doing to give back? Corporations are increasingly realizing that CSR or corporate social responsibility is as much a priority as any other involvement that the business has with its customers and community. It’s not that companies themselves are reluctant to give back, but historically those initiatives have been either piecemeal or have really been thought of as an ‘extra.’
As the corporate landscape evolves with time, a new emphasis on social care has emerged – making it not only expected of many companies but woven into their very culture. Today’s employees look for employers who go beyond just plying them with paychecks and actively seek to make meaningful change in society through their business practices. As such, CSR is no longer an option; it’s become integral to staying competitive in today’s world.
Statistics from the Canada Survey of Business Contributions to Community show that Canadian corporations give over $3 billion to charities each year. When interviewed, 48% of corporations said that giving fits in with their values and culture, and half of the corporations interviewed said that they believe giving helps to build healthy and strong communities.
There is a great deal of research on the importance of corporate giving, and the benefits that it can have on employee culture. However, much of that places the onus on the employee to participate, instead of making it an employer-led initiative that’s woven seamlessly into an employee’s workflow.
What we emphasize most at WholeHearted is the benefit of taking action together.
It’s also about providing your people with a space to make an impact they may not otherwise be able to make on their own.
One of our missions is to bring employees into that giving experience, so that not only do they understand the impact made by their employer, but they are actually taking an active part in the company ‘doing good” and feeling valued for their contribution. This added component to an employee event both promotes employee engagement and strengthens the team’s bond with both their organization and the cause.
Now we know budgeting can be a concern when it comes to allocating funds for engagement programs and corporate giving. Traditionally, money for philanthropic efforts and money for employee engagement were apportioned into different budgets (think different buckets), and the two rarely, if ever crossed paths.
We believe that that needs to change, and here’s why.
The result of a divide means that even though philanthropy is well-intentioned, it has little impact on the employees on a personal level. We challenge you to reconsider your spend on a luxury meal, a branded hoodie, a retreat, or a video game in the office. Why not combine budgets and create a really meaningful experience for your teams, while serving an in-need community?
Perhaps the donation sum changes too, instead of a $5,000 cheque, you might have a $4,000 donation budget so you can allocate $1,000 to involve your team in a hands-on program that gives back.. But you know what that creates? A group of people who are happier, more connected, and more fulfilled. Oftentimes, with the well-being and resources to do more inside and outside the walls of their organizations.
Remember that generosity ripples, and it can take on multiple forms. We love doing things differently, and working with our clients to find solutions that work for them. Let’s talk about doing more good together.