“There is no more powerful institution in society than business. The business of business should not be about money; it should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed” -Anita Roddick.
By now, companies are well aware that to stay ahead and appeal to a wider reach of customers, they need to do beyond just providing exceptional services and products.
They need to care about social issues as well.
It may be argued that in a chaotic world such as business, there are few moments you can spare for things other than work. However, studies have shown that organizations that have managed to do so are far more successful. That alone is a testament to how corporate social responsibility is well worth the effort. In fact, studies have shown that employees who volunteer through work feel so much better about their employer.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to look for CSR activities in the Philippines that will create, develop or strengthen bonds within your organization. Whether you wish to dedicate a day for employee volunteering opportunities or develop a long-standing relationship with a nonprofit, the fact that you are already making a difference can create a positive ripple effect on your employees. As a result, your employees will feel more involved in making a significant change, motivating them to work better for your organization.
So, if you wish to create a corporate social responsibility program for your company, below are some tips to get you started:
a.) Find the right cause
Motivate your employees to make a positive impact or change by identifying a cause that they are passionate about. That said, reach out to them and gauge their interest. Conduct surveys and discuss issues that are important to them and their colleagues. Send pulse surveys to gather and understand their motivations and charitable interests. This is an especially wise move as a large organization as this is a quick way to determine a common interest among your employees. However, if you feel like you are struggling to find the right match, look for organizations that assist companies in finding and pairing up with the right cause.
b.) Dedicate days for volunteering
After you have identified a cause, ensure your employees can work on it by giving them time to make a difference. Create opportunities for this by allowing them time off for scenarios such as:
* Volunteering at a local food bank
* Organizing a company bake or garage sale and donating the proceeds
* Cleaning up a beach, park, highway, or other public areas
* Joining a charity run or walk
* Staffing a charity-sponsored event or performance (decorating, setting up, collecting tickets, cleaning up)
Know that volunteering does not have to be done as a group. While team effort is great, some employees may feel passionate about different things. In this case, employees working on a particular cause may require travel or time commitments that are not possible for everyone. As an employer, the ball is then in your court to offer paid time off so that they can volunteer and contribute to causes that they find important to them.
c.) Respond to local events
Disasters create urgent community needs and opportunities to help. Your organization should quickly make an effort to respond whenever help is needed, such as cleanups after a typhoon, earthquake, or other natural disasters. Respond to these events meaningfully by using the resources at your disposal.
d.) Present skills-based micro-volunteering opportunities
In lieu of monetary donations or volunteering physical labor, your employees can offer their expertise. They may have a unique set of skills that can significantly aid charitable causes that may need a good website design, content writing, research and analyses, social media marketing, content writing, and so much more. Rather than donating time or money, your employees can instead lend their specific set of skills in small time chunks at their convenience or on days you have designated.
e.) Host in-office volunteering opportunities
Make volunteering easier and more convenient for your employees by doing it where they work. Organizing off-site events may be difficult logistically, and doing it in the office may seem much easier and more accessible. That said, host a charity drive for needed items such as shoes, books, or clothing or design cards or holiday messages for people in the hospital or nursing home. Not only are these in-office opportunities simple to set up, but they are also easier to join and highly visible to your employees.
f.) Match their donations
Employees are more inclined to donate if they know that their contributions will be matched by the organization. Aside from that, they will also feel that the company they work for values the same things they do.
g.) Share your story
Make your charitable contributions known, and make them public. Do not hide the good you have done from the world. Document employee volunteering events and in-office contests on your company’s social media profile. Apart from creating goodwill outside the office, it showcases the effort made by your employees. As a result, they will feel proud of their workplace, making them more receptive to contributing to good causes in the future.