Tips for motivating your employees

Consult with your employees before you shape your program

The success of any corporate volunteering program depends on the level of employee participation in the volunteering activities. Consultation with employees in the initial planning phases can help you frame the program in a way that is attractive to them.  When they are part of the decision-making process they are more likely to support it.  A program will also hold appeal if it incorporates a degree of flexibility in terms of what types of activities employees can be involved in, when they can volunteer, and who they can volunteer for.

Why employees choose to be involved

Employees will be attracted to volunteering because of the perceived ‘worthiness’ of the activity but also because of the opportunity it presents for developing skills, building confidence, and the fun aspects of working with colleagues, being out of the office and undertaking a challenge outside of their usual routine.

‘Corporate volunteering programs often struggle with the same issues non-profit volunteer programs face – lack of recognition from the top, inadequate resources, and the inability to be an integrated part of the corporation or organisation.’ (Merrill Associates, 2005). These factors lay the foundation of a successful program. Here are some other tips for encouraging your employees to participate in the volunteering program:

Internal Support

Give the program a brand and identity and spell out what your company is contributing.

Let new employees know about the scheme as part of their induction into the company.

Offer support to employees and appoint an internal contact person.

Have a clear process for involvement.

Encourage higher levels of management to demonstrate their endorsement of the program by participating in volunteering activities themselves.

Employee choice and internal promotions

Do not mandate involvement – volunteering is an act of freewill.

Make opportunities attractive and varied.

Use company champions to promote the benefits of volunteering.

Profile employees who have volunteered in your internal communications.

Ask a representative from a community organisation to speak to your employees (remember that half of all volunteers become involved because they were asked).

Promote opportunities through a range of channels such as cards in the tea room, notes in payslips, posters and fliers.

Communicate personally as well as through written materials.

 Consider structuring the program so that family and friends of employees can become involved. Conservation work, fundraising events and festivals are good examples of inclusive activities.

Recognition

 Internal awards schemes and award ceremonies.  Survey your employees about how they might expect to be acknowledged for volunteering.  You may find that they have a preference to not be recognised in a public fashion or feel that the focus should be on the not-for-profit organisations.

Make your recognition program strong and visible.

Let volunteers know how they are making a difference.

Give employees the opportunity to nominate the not-for-profit organisation they volunteer for to receive a financial reward.

 Include articles in newsletters, on the intranet, in emails.

Distribute a personal thank you letter from the CEO to all volunteers. 

Organise a special day of celebrations during National or International Volunteers Week.

Promote your employees’ contributions externally through the website and company publications such as annual reports.

References
‘Best Practices in Workplace Employee Volunteering Programs’, The Points of Light Foundation with Sue Vineyard, Editor. The Points of Light Foundation, 1996.

‘Corporate Volunteering Survey’, Volunteering Australia, November 2005.

 ‘Employee volunteering: the guide.’ Liza Ramrayka. The National Centre for Volunteering UK, London, UK, 2001.

Merrill Associates, www.merrillassociates.net  2005

‘The complete beginners guide for companies who wish to start an employee volunteering scheme,’  The National Centre for Volunteering UK, London, UK.

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