Social responsibility and giving back – it’s the right thing to do
(Image credit: Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash)
People are drawn to workplaces whose mission and values speak to their inner calling and sense of purpose. It’s in their DNA, it’s what makes them extraordinary human beings.
And there is no greater feeling than inspiring someone and being motivated as well. Everyone deserves to be supported in a way that helps them achieve their potential. It could be from a friend, family member, colleague or someone who is just passionate about giving back for the greater good.
Connecting and giving every day – mentoring every day.
There are so many people who want to help someone within their organization, and there are also individuals who want to make a positive impact outside their organization – in the community and around the world.
Over the years, there has been a shift in business and organizational priorities as it relates to being more socially responsible and giving back to the community. Most organizations and businesses focus on the economic, social and environmental aspects and align them with their business plans and people strategies. Others focus on ethical business practices, equity, diversity and inclusion, and philanthropy to name a few.
It’s about doing the right thing.
According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
is what a company should do to play a positive role in the community and consider the environmental and social impact of business decisions
is closely linked to sustainability – creating economic, social and environmental value – and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
has shifted to social purpose with many companies pivoting from having a community investment strategy and a ‘nice to have’ mindset to adopting a holistic approach in which their mission is built into everything they do
can involve a broad scope of approaches and initiatives – everything from sustainable practices to community involvement – in which customers increasingly expect this responsible behaviour from companies they do business with
Organizations who also offer volunteer programs to support employees at various stages of their career, are more likely to entice them to join and to stay. Internal and external programs allow employees time off to give back to those in need through deferred leave or other sabbatical programs. This can positively impact productivity and overall engagement, especially with Millennials and Gen Zs who have high expectations for corporate social programs and volunteer opportunities.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant impact it had on volunteer organizations, Statistics Canada reported some positive findings:
24 million Canadians volunteered 2.5 million hours of their time to improve the health, well-being, education and safety of our communities.
Almost three in four Canadians made a difference in their community by helping others directly through informal volunteering.
Four in five Canadians aged 15 and older reported that they volunteered prior to the pandemic, either as part of an organization's formal volunteering model, or informal on their own without the involvement of a group.
Gen Zs were the most likely to volunteer, but Canada’s oldest generation contributed the most hours, on average.
Just over half (52%) of Gen Zs volunteered in 2018, by far the highest rate of formal volunteerism among all age groups.
Topping the list of reasons for Gen Zs to volunteer was the desire to improve job prospects, identified by 38% of the youngest volunteers in this group. Gen Zs were also most likely to state that their contributions were tied to co-op, graduation or employment requirements, with about 10% of their volunteer hours representing mandatory unpaid work.
While millions of Canadians formally volunteer their time to an organization, many also do so informally, such as helping out family, friends, neighbors or the community. In 2018, almost 3 in 4 Canadians aged 15 and older (22.7 million people) devoted the equivalent of 1.8 million full-time, year-round jobs to informal volunteering.
Here at Life Works Well, we believe that one of the most important things that organizations or small businesses can do is to give back to its employees, the community and around the globe. Being socially responsible goes a long way, whether having formal or informal programs.
We work hard to do our part and to give back. For example, the founder mentors young entrepreneurs one-on-one for a two-year period by sharing time and knowledge. We helped the Women in Biz Network (WIBN) match mentors and mentees as part of their lifetime program, and we also give financial support to various charities and not-for-profit organizations. We are a proud supporter of Black Mentorship Inc. – a program that helps to bridge the gap and access to mentorship within the Black and BIPOC professional community.
How does your organization or business pay it forward by giving back to employees in the workplace, the community and the world? What do you do on your own time, out of the goodness of your heart? We would love to hear from you. Connect with us if you want to chat about starting a giving or volunteer program in the future, or other ways to improve your human relations and heart-centred workplaces.
There is still time to register for our next Mentor Circle on February 27 at noon with Jill Valentine, the founder of UGO Impact and a certified life and leadership coach pioneering the transformational travel arena through this social enterprise. Join us for an engaging conversation about the changing corporate social responsibility landscape, what is ‘conscious capitalism’, and how purpose-driven organizations can provide options to their employees to make a difference through volunteerism and giving back.