Corporate or Employee Volunteering

Employee volunteering is a relatively new concept in Ireland, but for many years companies across the world have recognised their responsibilities to their stakeholders and the impact that they have on the local community through their Corporate Social Responsibility practices. These companies recognise that a prosperous, healthy and crime-free community benefits all who live and work there.

Ways to Contribute to Your Community:

Companies may wish to involve their employees and give back to their local community in one or more ways:

• Volunteering Day - an opportunity for staff to volunteer for a pre-set time e.g. one day a year for their chosen charity or cause.
• Team Building – an opportunity for staff to volunteer together on a fulfilling project outside the work place as part of their team building efforts.
• Family Volunteering – encouraging employees to volunteer with their families on weekend projects on behalf of the company.
• Matching Funds Programme – companies award the Community/Voluntary organisation with matching funds based on the number of hours the volunteer works over a specified period of time.
• Matching Grants Programme – companies award monies to Community and Voluntary organisations based on pre-set criteria e.g. a company may give only to organisations supporting the environment or with children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Skills-based Volunteering - companies provide employees with the time to volunteer on the job using skills related to their job e.g. an accounting firm might allow an employee an hour a week to volunteer as Treasurer for a voluntary organisation.  
• Provide Office Space- companies provide free or reduced rate office space for voluntary groups. 
• Provide Meeting or Event Space - companies provide free meeting or event space for voluntary groups.
• Provide Volunteer Project Funds - companies provide the financial resources for a volunteer project e.g. provide the paint, rollers and paint brushes to paint the local community centre.
• Event Sponsorship - companies make a financial contribution towards an event which helps raise funds and/or awareness for a particular cause or voluntary group.

Benefits for Your Company

• Improved public relations in the community
• Provides opportunities to interact in new ways with customers and potential customers 
• Improves recruitment and retention of employees
• Builds a cohesive, motivated workforce and increases employee performance and productivity
• Improves employee loyalty
• Encourages team spirit
• The company operates within a stronger and more vibrant community

Employee Benefits

• Improves employee leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Increases opportunities for employees to explore and develop new areas of expertise
• Adds variety and fulfillment and increases employee morale
• Increases interaction with other employees
• Improves community services used by employees and their families
• Enlarged sense of community and social obligation