Corporate Values: Benefits of Having a Culture of Service
Culture matters and can influence everything from productivity and profitability to how attractive your organization is to prospective candidates. This is true, more than ever, with the workforce comprised of Millennials and increasingly Gen Z candidates who have different perspectives and priorities that past generations may not have considered relevant to their place of work.
First and foremost, including a strong emphasis on giving back to your local community is simply the right thing to do. There’s plenty of people in situations who desperately need a helping hand and anyone in a position to lend a hand has a moral duty to do so. It’s also personally rewarding and will leave individuals feeling like they’ve spent some time well, had an opportunity to help and connect with other people, and work towards a goal together. At Juno, we recently helped prepare a small plot of overgrown land to be ready for planting to be used as a community garden at a local soup kitchen, which allows them to harvest fresh vegetables from their own property to use in meals for those in need. Outside in the sun and fresh air, toiling in the earth, joking around, and talking with one another was a great way to get outside of the office (or house) for an afternoon and do something besides sit in front of a screen, with a very tangible, real outcome at the end of it.
And if you want to be competitive in the market when trying to attract new talent, a key component in doing so is by offering experiences like this based on company values that say, “hey we’re a part of this neighborhood and we want to make it a good place to work and live for everyone.” People will always expect competitive pay and benefits, but if there’s nothing beyond that to offer (especially to younger generations who want the company they work for to align with their personal values so they can feel ethically consistent in their life) then you may see talent going towards competitors who offer a more holistic approach to answering the question, “why work here?”
Research shows that volunteering has multiple health benefits which includes positive impacts on mental health and overall well-being. When you have happy employees, productivity is better. In a recent Newsweek article, studies showed that “89% of employees perceived companies that sponsored volunteer activities as fostering a better working environment, and 75% said volunteering was critical to their well-being.” Outside of well-being benefits, there are ways that volunteering can improve the bottom line of the business, such as:
Upskilling through the acquisition of new skills
For example, if someone sits on a board of a nonprofit, they could be asked to assist with operational tasks outside of their area of expertise, such as finance, budgeting, business development, social media, etc.
Building teamwork and camaraderie and allowing for cross-departmental collaboartion
Expanding on soft skills (i.e. empathy, empowerment, leadership)
Building your network
Aiding in retention and recruitment
Committing to a culture of service is a value that can be implemented regardless of the organization’s size. Beth Horback, a field selling assistant of General Mills, shared the following about her experience working in a large company that values giving back,
“At General Mills there are a few sayings/mottos that we live by daily. The most impactful to me is ‘Be a Force for Good’ and we truly live it! I am so grateful to work for a company that not only allows me to be a part of the things that I am passionate about (DEI&B), but truly encourages and enables all its employees to do the things that mean the most to them. Service is encouraged at all levels. The time and platform are given generously. We work as teams to play an important role in our communities throughout the US. We help at the Ronald McDonald House and Boys & Girls Clubs, often during work hours. Through General Mills’ sponsorship with organizations like NextUp, we sit on volunteer boards and help hold developmental and networking events. We hold DEI&B devents during work hours so that it doesn’t take away from your home life. And accomplishments outside of work are acknowledged and cheered on. And the cycle continues. Because they believe in us (and me!) I am energized to share and give back. And through it all we give… and receive exponentially!”
In thinking about how your company can cultivate this type of culture, consider some of these ideas:
Spotlight employees that sit on committees and boards as part of your brand
Have a donation match program
Donate in honor of employee birthdays
Plan a charity drive
Plan a volunteer outing
Partner with clients to support their initiatives
Meet the Authors
Theresa Savage
Senior Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions
Jeff Seidl
Senior Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions
When we say, “Ultimate Connectors,” we mean the best at the talent acquisition game.
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Want to learn more? Check out these sources we used to compile this blog post.
Corporate Culture Matters A Lot, Says New Study (forbes.com)
The Importance Of Establishing Company Core Values -- And How To Define Them (forbes.com)
Employee Volunteerism Can Improve Your Workplace (businessnewsdaily.com)
3 health benefits of volunteering - Mayo Clinic Health System
How Volunteering Can Positively Impact Employee Wellness and Community Engagement (newsweek.com)