Social Corporate Responsibility

Social Corporate Responsibility Used to Attract, Retain and Develop Prime Talent

Social responsibility used to fall into the domain of non-profit organizations alone. This is no longer the case. According to a survey conducted by Deloitte & Touche USA, 67% of employees 18–26 showed a preference for companies that offer community involvement programs. In response, private companies and firms have begun to use volunteer programs as part of their strategy to attract and retain employees. Participatory volunteerism is also being used as an effective and cost-efficient employee development tool.

Capstrat, a North Carolina company specializing in strategic communications has learned to leverage its community involvement programs along with its industry-competitive benefits to increase retention. A third of Capstrat's employees are young men and women in their 20s, so-called Gen Y or Millenials. Most of them were attracted to the prospect of participating in the company's Boomerang Society, a program that encourages community involvement while at the same time developing leadership skills, client management skills, and strategic planning efforts.

What makes this program unique is that it is managed and developed by the employees themselves. Capstrat employees are given $15,000 to spend annually on pro bono projects. They can then choose which client they wish to work with, decide how and when to structure volunteer work days and also manage a matching donation program. Through this matching program, Capstrat donates $250 in exchange for every 50 hours of volunteer work completed by employees in their off-hours.

Today's leading edge companies must consider the concept of corporate social responsibility and offering employees the opportunity to get involved at work or risk losing their valuable, socially-conscious associates.

Written by: Alfa

http://capstratlabs.com/news/in-the-news/volunteerism-helps-convert-recruits-into-loyal-employees/