Dive Brief:
- Employee volunteerism increased last year following a boost in the share of employers offering volunteer time off as well as a broader array of volunteering opportunities, according to survey data from the nonprofit Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals announced Nov. 15.
- The findings, published ahead of GivingTuesday on Dec. 3, show that 61% of the 149 companies surveyed reported an increase in volunteerism in 2023 after years of decline following the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents cited increased opportunities for virtual, in addition to in-person, volunteering, and 28% said their companies had introduced or increased skills-based volunteering in the past year.
- A large share of employers introduced group and individual volunteering opportunities, while fewer introduced elements such as a period of global service recognition or civic engagement programs. The trends support the idea that volunteerism is “an effective strategy for increasing engagement and tangibly aligning corporate values with those of employees,” ACCP said.
Dive Insight:
Volunteerism can be an opportunity to showcase organizational values and attract talent. A 2023 report by the Ares Management Corporation found that employees whose organizations offered volunteer programs were more likely than their peers to be satisfied with their professional lives. The same report found that volunteer programs had a positive effect on professional development and growth.
The causes supported by volunteer efforts also may help recruiting efforts. For example, a 2022 IBM study, 2 in 3 respondents said that they would be more willing to apply for, and accept, jobs from organizations that they considered environmentally sustainable. ACCP’s report, meanwhile, found that environmental sustainability was the highest priority issue for corporate social responsibility teams surveyed.
Employers have had to adjust their volunteer programs thanks to the growth of hybrid work, including by adopting solutions that allow for employees to create and build virtual campaigns around specific causes and associations, one executive previously told HR Dive. Employers can also create more flexible work schedules that allow for employees to take time off to volunteer.