As the giving season is upon us, I cannot help but think about how Gatesman embraces traditions that capture the spirit of the holiday season. This September, we hosted a friendly food drive competition within the agency to see which department could gather the most donations to support local food banks - shout out to the Marketing Intelligence department for winning and collecting over $300 worth of goods! We not only collected donations for those in need, but we also fostered teamwork, compassion and a sense of accomplishment, leaving employees feeling more connected to Gatesman’s mission, vision and values.
Beyond the canned goods and non-perishables collected, this event reminded us of volunteerism's core benefits to the workplace. Although increasing employee engagement in the workplace through volunteerism is not new to the world of HR, its importance became top of mind for me. In fact, according to the article “The Rise of Workplace Volunteering Programs: How Companies are Giving Back” by Sherrie Mersdorf, volunteering and volunteer programs can be traced back to the 1970s when Ben & Jerry's implemented a policy of paid time off for employees to volunteer in their communities. What started at Ben & Jerry’s has now become popular among many workplaces today – and for a good reason.
Core Benefits of Using Volunteerism as an Employee Engagement Tool:
- Builds Stronger Connections
As we saw from our food drive contest, friendly competition generates a powerful source of camaraderie and strengthens bonds across all departments. It allows for team-building outside of the regular work environment and for employees who might not interact regularly to work together to achieve common goals.
- Skills Development
Organizing and promoting our food drive allowed employees to showcase leadership, creativity and problem-solving skills. Some team members took on new roles in coordinating efforts, motivating their peers and finding unique ways to maximize donations. Volunteer initiatives offer a platform for employees to grow and develop skills that also enhance their professional lives.
- Enhances Employee Well-Being
Volunteering can foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment not only at work but also in the community. It allows employees to step away from their usual routines providing a mental break that can reduce stress and boost moods. According to a study from Deloitte, 91% of survey respondents said volunteer opportunities positively impact their overall work experience and connection to their employer.
- Enhances Innovation
As an advertising agency, our mission is to create ideas that help businesses grow, so enhancing innovation and perspective is critical to us. Volunteering allows employees the opportunity to emerge themselves into diverse situations and challenges, sparking creativity and new ideas that ultimately transfer back to their role and the agency.
- Attraction and Retention of Talent
With a multi-generational workforce that now includes Gen Z, it’s important to offer opportunities and benefits that resonate with each generation. Promoting volunteerism can better attract and retain talent by aligning with the values of socially conscious employees. A Deloitte 2022 Gen Z and Millennial survey found that employees in those age groups feel a deep need to balance work with the ability to affect social change, and they prefer to work for companies that give them opportunities to serve the community. It was also noted that 87% of respondents consider workplace volunteer opportunities a factor in their decision to stay with their current employer or pursue a new one.
A Lasting Impact
Each effort, big or small, reflects our belief in using our resources to uplift others—a mission that we carry forward in both our professional and volunteer pursuits. As we continue to look for ways to make an impact, we hope to host more volunteer opportunities, and we’re looking forward to continuing our holiday tradition by hosting our annual Toys for Tots toy drive. Here’s to celebrating the season with compassion – this holiday and beyond!
For more information, please visit gatesmanagency.com or keep up with #TeamGatesman on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or X, formerly Twitter.
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