Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities benefit everyone involved. Employees value opportunities to give back to the local community during work hours. Enterprises benefit from enhanced brand image and increased employee engagement. And deserving nonprofits form impactful relationships, receive financial and material support, and (often) increase awareness through local media coverage.
Programs like matching grants, giving employees time off to volunteer, and organizing events where employees can participate in CSR events alongside their peers represent a significant commitment by employers.
But as noted in part one of this series, “Organizations that invest in a well-designed corporate responsibility program see employee engagement increase by up to 7.5%, employee productivity increase by 13%, and employee turnover decrease by 50%.”
This post is part two of a three-part series. The first post revealed 15 statistics about the value of CSR programs for companies, employees, and nonprofits. The third and final post will detail the essential qualities to keep in mind when choosing a CSR team building provider.
How to Optimize Results from CSR Programs
Research from America’s Charities shows the value CSR programs can have for companies, their employees, and their communities. But to fully realize the value and benefits that CSR activities can deliver, that research also identifies these seven actions and approaches as essential. The two studies cited are listed at the end of this post.
Be committed: “Leadership MUST be involved in efforts to engage employees. Employee engagement and workplace giving programs MUST be woven into the fabric of a corporation’s identity.” (1)
Be authentic: “Employee engagement has become a key ingredient in employee recruitment and retention strategies and it MUST be authentic.” (1)
Be consistent: “Employee engagement programs can no longer be conducted with the mindset: ‘if you build it, they will come’ or ‘it’s one and done.’ There is a growing recognition that these programs must be robust, constantly improving, and engaging to meet the needs of the workforce.” Even firms with low but consistent levels of social performance have higher market values than firms with occasional spikes of high social performance. (1)
Be genuine: “Treat employees, customers, and shareholders well – through good times and bad. They will see that the company is genuine, strengthening their trust, improving relationships, and boosting the firm’s value.” (2)
Be deliberate: “When a firm engages in CSR deliberately and consistently, focuses on CSR dimensions related to its business and industry, and starts with internal dimensions of CSR, financial performance will be enhanced. Firms that wax and wane from extensive to limited CSR commitments do poorly.” (2)
Be strategic: “Use CSR as a differentiator to recruit highly-qualified workers. CSR increases employer attractiveness for job seekers with high levels of job choice.” (2)
Be practical: “Leverage CSR as a tool to develop global talent. Engaged employees are happier and more productive, but CSR has benefits even beyond the increased productivity that correlates with high employee engagement. Research suggests that involvement in the company’s CSR practices teaches workers valuable new skills that they bring back to their regular roles for the company.” (2)
BEST CSR Programs to Support These Efforts
Businesses often offer several different ways for employees to give back to their communities. One of the most effective and memorable ways is through charitable CSR team building programs. Best Corporate Events offers more than 20 different activities to benefit a wide range of organizations and causes. Among our newest and most popular programs are:
- Bike Build Donation®
This BEST trademarked program combines fast-paced fun with giving back to the community, and is ideal for groups of 30 people up to thousands. Our proprietary app and iPads combine audio/video clues with fun challenges and activities. - Autism Awareness Sensory Donation
In this new addition to our CSR lineup, groups not only assemble sensory sup kits for autism spectrum therapy programs, but also learn about the effects, behaviors, and challenges of autism disorders through engaging sensory activities. - Build-a-Guitar®
Teams engage in challenges to earn the parts needed to assemble electric guitars for donation to a local school or music organization. - Build-a-Band™
Inspired by our popular Build-a-Guitar® program, Build-a-Band™ brings the power of music to young people with the high-qualityguitars, bass guitars, and drum sets needed to equip a full band! - Earth Wind and Solar
This newly-released program combines the engaging experience of building and racing solar-powered vehicles with a donation that will spark children’s curiosity and exposure to STEAM.
Partner with the BEST to Maximize the Impact of Your CSR Programs
Enterprises frequently implement a variety of CSR initiatives, from direct contributions to employee-chosen payroll deduction to giving employees paid time off to volunteer for local nonprofits.
A key component of these broad programs is CSR team building events. Whether organized with select teams in their home city or with larger teams at annual or semi-annual all-company gatherings, CSR programs enable employees to give back while engaging and strengthening their relationships with peers and enhancing their collaborative and problem-solving skills.
Citations
1) Snapshot Employer Research: The New Corporate DNA – Where Employee Engagement and Social Impact Converge | America’s Charities: https://www.charities.org/Snapshot-Employer-Research-Corporate-DNA-Employee-Engagement-Social-Impact
2) Project ROI: Defining the Competitive and Financial Advantages of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability | Babson Social Innovation Lab: https://www.charities.org/sites/default/files/Project%20ROI%20Report.pdf
