When you think of company perks and benefits, the obvious comes to mind: health, 401K, vacation, and the other baseline offerings that every company should offer. In order to stay competitive, many companies have been getting creative with their benefits to attract talent. Among many other great perks that benefit the employee, one stands out above the rest as a benefit to society as well – employee volunteerism. Overall, encouraging employee volunteerism is mutually beneficial for both the employee and the company, and can help make a positive impact on the community.

There are so many positives to implementing an employee volunteer program or giving designated time off for employees to volunteer. For instance, here at JBC, we volunteer annually in December with the Ira Zaslow Foundation to bring holiday cheer to over 1,000 children at a Title 1 school in our community. It’s something that many of our employees look forward to each year and brings us closer together. 

Here are some of the key benefits of encouraging employee volunteerism that we’ve found:

Builds company culture: Volunteering as a team helps to build strong relationships and fosters a sense of community and collaboration. This can lead to improved teamwork, which leads to stronger company culture. 

Enhances company reputation: By participating in volunteer programs, your company can enhance its reputation as a socially responsible and community-oriented business. This can improve your brand image and help attract new hires who value those qualities. 

Develops leadership and teamwork skills: Volunteering allows employees to develop valuable leadership and teamwork skills that they can use in their everyday work. Honing in on problem-solving and hands-on skills can lead to improved productivity and stronger job performance.

Improves employee engagement: Employees who are encouraged to participate in volunteer activities are given an opportunity to find a sense of purpose and fulfillment outside of work, which can lead to improved engagement with their work and the company.

Provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment: Having a job that’s fulfilling is important, but it is essential for employees to have the chance to seek fulfillment beyond their work. By giving back to the community through volunteering, employees can feel a sense of purpose that can improve both their job satisfaction and overall well-being.  

Companies that prioritize employee volunteerism demonstrate their commitment to not only their employees, but also to doing good in the world.  Creating opportunities for your employees to volunteer is a meaningful way to give back to your community, strengthen your company culture, and make a positive impact. With a little planning and effort, you can easily create an internal program or designate independent volunteer days that will engage and inspire your current and future employees.