It might mean your team are out of the office, and away from their tasks for the day – but the benefits of corporate volunteering are far reaching. Not only do volunteering programs benefit your employees, and your company, the wider community wins too.

Corporate volunteering programs have seen steep growth in the last decade, and come in all shapes and sizes. More organisations are developing programs, and the range of volunteering opportunities are endless. Helping new migrants write their resumes, mentoring graduates, cleaning up local beaches or parks, collecting and donating food items, and donating blood are just a few examples of the opportunities that organisations provide their employees with to volunteer outside of the business.

For your employees, the opportunity to meet new people, outside of the workplace may be a big draw card to sign up to your program. Getting involved also helps individuals explore new situations, challenges and ways of working, which may lead to them developing new skills and perspectives. Volunteering can boost health and well-being levels and help bring a greater sense of purpose and belonging to individuals who take up the opportunity to get involved.

Your company will also reap the rewards of a volunteering program. You’ll attract and retain staff through the promotion of your program, and work absenteeism may decrease. Externally, your program will positively build your brand and reputation, possibly leading to new partnerships and collaboration. And importantly, you’ll see enhanced relationships between your employees who volunteer together, as well as an increase in trust, motivation, innovation and teamwork across the business.

And of course, there is the wider community that will greatly appreciate your volunteering efforts. The organisation’s you volunteer in will have the chance to showcase the amazing work they do, which could lead to wider visibility and funding for their services. Your team’s volunteer efforts will assist in generating greater public awareness around community related issues, and the work that is required to make meaningful environmental, social, health and economic impacts.

Setting up a volunteering program within your organisation requires the support of multiple parts of the business, including leadership, HR teams and your learning and development experts. In the development stage, it’s worth chatting with your external contacts to understand what has and hasn’t worked in their organisation’s programs, and how you might go about launching a program that has thoughtfully considered practical steps required for staff to be away from their work whilst volunteering.

Embracing volunteering within your organisation demonstrates your understanding of social responsibility, and your values as a business. It also supports the growth and development of your employees, as well as contributing to the health, well-being, and sense of belonging of individuals within the workplace.