As a business owner, you know your business goes as the community goes. So why not make it a little brighter by supporting your employees volunteering in and around your neighborhood? Not only will you gain the goodwill of your employees, but you’ll be keeping the area thriving, or helping to rebuild a community you want to do business in for years to come.
If you already have a volunteer program in place, we say thank you for being an example to others. If you haven’t had a chance to put a program together that allows your employees to volunteer during work hours, let us offer up a few suggestions on how, and why, you should.
One of the best ways to get involved is to set up a volunteer opportunity for all of your employees. It eliminates the stress a single employee might have when they’re trying to find a place to volunteer. A planned event not only helps create a better community, but it will also help you build your team into a more tight-knit group. You can reward your employees for their participation with incentives like:
- Comp time for those who volunteer on the weekend.
- Free meals during the charity event.
- Door prizes.
So how do you pick a charity or cause? Some of your employees may have a personal connection with certain groups, so ask around. If there isn’t a clear-cut favorite, you’ll have to pick one that best fits you and your business’s goals. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making a decision:
- Is there a natural fit for your business? If you’re a landscaper, it only makes sense for you to help with a park revitalization. Run a search on a site like org or reach out to your local chamber to find out what charities are near your business.
- Are you already making a contribution to a charity? If you do, work with the leadership of that organization to create an event that would be appropriate for you, your employees and the charity.
- Have you done something in the past? Have you helped customers/suppliers with their events before? Reach out to them and see if they still need help, if they do, design the event to bring past and present together. Ask former employees if they want to lend a hand again. This gives your current employees the feeling that no matter when they work, you’ll always welcome them back — building even more of a team feel.
There are countless ways for you and your business to give back to your community. All you have to do is pick a charity or organization, and start making a difference — we applaud you in advance for your efforts!
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