What if you could find a way to engage your employees, boost their morale and get credit for providing a better working environment, all while making the community a better place in which to live?
In 2017, a study by audit firm Deloitte on volunteering found that:
- 74% of employees think volunteerism provides an improved sense of purpose.
- 70% Believe volunteer activities are more likely to boost employee morale than company-sponsored happy hours.
- 70% Agree that companies who sponsor volunteer activities have a more pleasant work atmosphere.
- 77% Say company-sponsored volunteer activities are essential to employee well-being.
- 89% Believe that companies that support volunteer activities offer a better overall working environment than those that do not.
These statistics show us a three-pronged benefit to community volunteering, a three-pointer, as they say in basketball. First, employees gain a sense of purpose and well-being.
Secondly, the company gains more productivity from a workforce that enjoys coming to work and most importantly, the community gains from the contributions of time and talent from employees.
Employees gain satisfaction from giving their time for a cause that improves some aspect of their community. They magnify their sense of purpose if the group they are helping resonates with their inner frequency of care. They gain a sense of calm and peace that positively impacts their physical and mental health. You will hear from many volunteers that they gain so much more personally from this experience.
Imagine that the company encourages community engagement, and your employees realize how much they gain from that experience. Your employees feel a greater sense of purpose and higher morale. Think about how much productivity you gain from a workforce that enjoys where they work and feels there is a better work environment. Recruitment becomes easier when people see that they become part of a company that cares and encourages its employees to care about the community in which they live and work.
The ultimate beneficiary is the community that gains from the time, talent, and financial support from an inspired and caring group of people. When those with means are supported and share with those in need, the magic happens.
The AGF Group believes the investment is worth it. With the feeling of being indebted and the desire to give back to communities, Serge Gendron, a philanthropist at heart, created the AGF Group Foundation in 2012.
“As a business leader, I believe we have a duty to be involved in the communities in which we operate because they have so greatly contributed to providing us with the education and status that we enjoy today” says Serge Gendron.
It has grown from humble beginnings and has given over $2.9 million to communities where we work.
Catherine Gendron, Head of Organizational Culture of the AGF Group, has been responsible for the general management of the Foundation since 2014 and says there are many reasons that employees are motivated to participate. Among the reasons she cites are that employees or partners of AGF bring all projects forward, and every project or donation has its own story. She also hears from our Ambassadors that they get involved to help the community, feel useful, feel better about themselves, and spread kindness to inspire others to get involved.
