Creating and implementing a volunteer time off policy can provide much-needed support to the community, help develop skills for employees, and boost morale.
According to an Employee Benefits Survey, conducted by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only 26% of employers allow employees to take paid time off to volunteer. This statistic is concerning when you consider the benefits that VTO provides to the community, employers, and employees. A 2017 Deloitte Volunteerism Survey found that 89% of employees believe that companies who sponsor volunteer activities offer a better work environment than those who do not.
Boosting employee morale through VTO has the power to impact both retention and overall employee work performance. For organizations that are on the fence regarding creating a volunteer time off policy, here are 5 additional benefits that VTO has to offer.
VTO Can Attract New Talent
With the job market hotter than ever, there has never been a more important time for businesses to invest in attracting new, diverse talent. Implementing a VTO policy is a great way for an organization to stand out and show they are socially responsible. According to a recent report, conducted by Fortune, millennials prefer to work for companies that give back to society. Another study found that 75% of millennials would take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company, and 64% won’t take a job if a potential employer doesn’t have strong corporate responsibility practices.
With 75% of the workforce being millennials by 2025, these are statistics that organizations cannot afford to ignore.
VTO Reduces Turnover and Hiring Costs
Keeping employees engaged, and morale high, can help organizations reduce turnover and control hiring costs. VTO is a benefit that the majority of today’s workforce desires. According to a 2019 Global Talent Trends study, VTO is one of the most desired philanthropic offerings that employers can offer employees. Another retention benefit of VTO that is often overlooked is the potential for skill development. Many corporate employees can use their skills and talents to help nonprofits reach their missions. Skill development can increase retention. In fact, according to a LinkedIn Workplace Learning report, 94% of respondents would stay at an organization longer if a company invested in helping them learn. The upside of implementing a VTO policy is huge, companies that invest in social responsibility can reduce employee turnover by 50%.
According to a study, published by Project ROI, companies that offer VTO increase employee engagement by up to 7.5%.
VTO Can Create Bonds Between Coworkers
Investing in corporate volunteerism can help companies forge bonds between coworkers and departments. Team building is essential to success, and VTO can help with alignment and communication. According to a Harvard Business Review (HBR) study, highly successful teams take breaks together and catch up on non-work-related topics frequently. Volunteerism can provide employees with an outlet to communicate and work towards a common goal.
Besides helping to build strong internal teams, volunteerism can also create external relationships between an organization’s employees and potential stakeholders, such as job prospects and customers.
VTO Increases Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Visibility
The importance of socially responsible companies has been trending upward for years. Besides hiring and retention benefits, CSR can also attract and retain customers. According to a CONE survey, 91% of global consumers expect companies to do more than make a profit but also operate responsibly to address social and environmental issues. Companies that invest in philanthropic initiatives, such as a VTO program, can increase loyalty and customer trust. Besides that, making a positive impact in the community is the right thing to do.
VTO Resources
What is VTO and How Can it Benefit Your Business
(Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities)
Volunteer Policy Template
(The Society of Human Resource Management – SHRM)
Here’s Why VTO is the Next Big Thing in Employee Benefits
(G2 Crowd)
Takeaways
Deploying a VTO policy can provide many benefits to an organization. VTO can help businesses attract new, fresh, talent in a tight marketplace, reduce turnover and hiring costs, create bonds between internal and external stakeholders, and increase corporate visibility in the community.
