Volunteerism, Employee Engagement and Social Impact - The Green Voice

                                        

                                            

Volunteerism  is both a powerful employee engagement and social impact tool. It  fosters increased feelings of personal purpose for workers, as well as a  reflection of their employers’ purpose. It strengthens the bonds  between companies, their employees and their communities. It promotes  the value of working in teams to solve problems. It results in a  corporate culture that leads to increased job satisfaction, productivity  and retention. It builds thriving communities and ensures future  workforce pipelines.

A recent Deloitte survey  found that 87 percent of U.S. office professionals said workplace  volunteer opportunities are important when considering staying with  their current employer or pursuing a work opportunity at a new employer.

At the same time, the need for skilled volunteers has never been greater by the nonprofit community. According to Taproot, 92 percent of nonprofit organizations report a lack of critical resources they need to fulfill their missions.

Yet, a Gallup poll  earlier this year found that U.S. employee engagement has sunk to a  10-year low and there is a growing trend of employee detachment from  organizations, particularly among workers younger than 35.

Here  in Pittsburgh, the Covestro Center for Community Engagement at Robert  Morris University serves the needs of both corporations and nonprofits  when it comes to volunteerism, employee engagement and social impact.  The Center’s programs encourage a balance of companies’ focus areas, its  employees’ individual skills and the needs of the local community. The  employee volunteers help strengthen nonprofits while building their own  technical and leadership skills.

While Pittsburgh’s nonprofits are  feeling the effects of the current economy and most corporations are  dealing with belt tightening to varying degrees, the Covestro Center for Community Engagement’s director, Jaime Simmons, is hopeful.

“The  outlook is positive for Pittsburgh. We have a lot of nonprofits that  need help. There are many corporations and individuals who are still  answering the call,” said Simmons. “The struggle is real, but there are  great moments and glimmers of hope with organizations coming together to  rally around struggling nonprofits whose work is vital to the  Pittsburgh region.”

Simmons specifically pointed to its BoardsWork! and Executive Service Corp programs.

If  you are interested in learning more about the programs provided by the  Covestro Center for Community Engagement at Robert Morris University,  visit: rmu.edu/ccce.

                                           

                                        

In March, the Points of Light Foundation convened its Corporate Service Council at the annual winter summit, “Purpose & Progress:  Leading the Next Era of Corporate Social Impact.” Following are some key insights that emerged:

Stephanie  Tonnesen Hornback is the founder of Hornback Partners LLC, a  woman-owned strategy and communications firm that helps businesses to  realize sustainability goals; develop and share impact stories; and,  foster deeper relationships with key stakeholders, internally and  externally. Follow her on social at @StephTHornback or visit  www.hornbackpartners.com.