Doing volunteer work gives back to communities

MANILA, Philippines—Debbie, an HR manager in a private company in Manila says, “I get a different high every time I do volunteer work. Our employees are happier when they get involved in community work.”

Her team just came from repacking and hauling relief goods in a large DSWD facility in Pasay. The call to help was made Monday, and more than half of the employees enlisted in the volunteer program. This on top of the donations and pledges for the victims and survivors of the calamity.

In the wake of the massive devastation brought by Typhoon Yolanda, the innate benevolence of millions of Filipinos emerges. This includes throngs of corporate employees contributing food, money, clothes and valuable services. By encouraging and institutionalizing this spirit of volunteerism, companies may gain valuable, extensive and long-lasting benefits.

Along with the usual corporate social responsibility programs that may cost millions, encouraging employees to do actual work may provide advantages with exponentially lesser cost while achieving greater impact for the communities that need them the most.

Happy employees are more productive

To employees whose companies espouse active community involvement, rolling their sleeves and sweating it out means greater organizational affinity and positive shared aspiration. This encourages teamwork, leadership and a wide range of skills development. It also improves communication and coordination among employees, their supervisors, and across departments, further opening channels for efficiency and productivity.

Employees who regularly get involved in voluntary work through company-organized activities get to improve their work performance. The emotional benefits range from job satisfaction, positive attitude, and high morale.

For the companies, having established and organized volunteer programs means strengthened brand awareness and community relationship. It helps build trust and loyalty among customers and enhances corporate image and reputation.

By providing time, resources, and moral support to the employees who volunteer, companies may reap vast intangible pluses such as improved employee retention, increased productivity and affinity. The unique Filipino traits of malasakit and bayahihan which are critical to organizational development are also enhanced.

Volunteer projects can be used to motivate employees, especially those who look to develop project management and leadership skills.

Those who are in the customer-service business will be able to send their employees to real life training on compassion, empathy, and sincerity. These positive returns far outweigh the monetary and time resources spent by the company and may in fact prove to be an effective vehicle in achieving strategic corporate goals.

Community wins

More importantly, the impact to the recipient communities is enormous. Their needs are given attention and addressed, creating quantifiable social and economic benefits from skilled, willing and able pool of employee volunteers.

Having more people care for people contributes to the psychological healing of the places ravaged by calamities. Working as a community of real people can lift the spirits of those in need and those who extend their arms to help their fellowmen.

Simple ways to organize

Putting together a group of volunteers in organizations need not to be as intricate and complicated as it seems. It can be as simple as getting the HR Department to advocate for a certain cause. Human Resources may look for government or civic organizations that the company can partner with then rally its employees to join the drive.

Different departments can appoint someone to lead clusters of volunteers to support the corporate advocacy. This may help in disseminating information, establish a system, and monitoring the progress of the projects.

Setting up employee volunteering platforms (blogs, pantry bulletin board) where they can post stories and photographs may also encourage more hands to help and inspire others to share their resources and services as needs arise.

Sincere intention first

Companies and organizations must take care, however, that its objective first and foremost is to help the communities. The benefits come only as a result of a sincere intention to help and alleviate the suffering of the communities affected by the disaster.

Careful attention should be done to ensure alliances with the right aid organizations. It would still be best to go with DSWD, Philippine National Red Cross and the likes.

In this trying time, whatever help we get and give will go a long way. We will win this seemingly gigantic challenge if everyone lends a hand—the government, private individuals, civic groups and private companies.

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TAGS: Corporate social responsibility, supertyphoon Yolanda, volunteers