Volunteering as a company boosts employee morale, increases employee retention and helps team members bond. Employees feel valued when the company they work for sees and meets needs in the community.
Seven ways your company can encourage employees to volunteer
Find an organization that needs your company's skills. Whether your employees are lawyers, contractors, accountants or bakers, they'll appreciate using professional skills to solve problems and meet community needs.
Choose a project that invites everyone to participate. Increase participation by selecting a Habitat for Humanity build, community clean-up or other large project that welcomes multiple volunteers.
Ask employees to suggest volunteer opportunities. Employees are more likely to volunteer in their free time when they feel passionate about the opportunity, so poll your staff for input before selecting a project.
Lead by example. Top-level executives set the tone for the company, so leaders should be among the first to sign up for volunteer day.
Donate to your employees' favorite charities. In addition to volunteer projects, consider matching employee donations to charities to increase impact.
Invite family members and friends to participate. If the volunteer opportunity occurs after work hours, invite employees to bring family and friends or provide free childcare to add fun and increase capacity.
Wear matching shirts or hats. Provide a uniform for volunteer day to boost company pride and give employees a free shirt or hat to wear outside of work.
When planning company volunteer events, consider coverage and risk-management options to protect participants and the organization; one resource to review is Volunteer insurance.
Employers should also understand how volunteer activities interact with liability and compensation rules; see guidance such as Volunteers and Workers' Compensation — Lessons from Diane Minish and Nonprofit Employers for examples and considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company require employees to volunteer?
Generally, volunteering should be optional; companies can encourage participation but requiring unpaid volunteer work can create legal and morale issues.
Should employers pay employees for volunteer time?
Some employers offer paid volunteer days as a benefit, but policies vary; check your company guidelines before offering paid time for volunteering.
How can we make volunteer events inclusive for families?
Invite family members, schedule events at convenient times, or provide on-site childcare to make participation easier for employees with families.
What should we do if a volunteer is injured during an event?
Have clear safety protocols and review insurance and workers' compensation coverage, and report incidents promptly according to company policy.