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DEL.ICIO.USExecs endorse volunteerism, social responsibility
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Companies that care about their communities and encourage their employees to volunteer their time to support causes will be more successful in the long run.
That was the theme of a CEO Roundtable discussion this morning at the National Conference on Volunteering & Service, which has brought about 4,500 leaders to Atlanta.
“Our customers require us to be active socially,” said Pierre Ferrari, continuing board chairman of Ben & Jerry’s. “During difficult times, we are expected to do even more.” Ed Fikse, U.S. managing director of Accenture, said community involvement is important for both publicly-held and privately-held companies.
“You have to make it part of the corporate agenda,” Fikse said, adding that shareholders and owners expect companies to give back. “At board meetings, board members ask us about engagement.”
Executives at the round table discussion today acknowledged that their companies are more inclined to recognize the longterm benefits of corporate social responsibility. Other companies might be more driven by their short-term bottom line.
Yet companies that dedicate themselves to community volunteerism are at an advantage in attracting the best employees and having a better relationship with customers, they said.
The conference leaders also recognized several companies with awards, including Atlanta’s own ChoicePoint, which has helped nonprofits screen volunteers for possible criminal records.
“Literally once a day, we find a sex offender trying to volunteer at a youth organization,” said Derek Smith, ChoicePoint’s CEO, upon accepting the award.
Smith dedicated the award to Moses Champion, who during the first 48 hours of his life was kidnapped. ChoicePoint employees helped set up a blast alert system for kidnapped victims. And Champion was quickly reunited with his family.
Atlanta is hosting the conference this year partly because of last year’s merger of Hands On Network and the Points of Light Foundation. The merged organization, the largest volunteer-based organization in the country, is headquartered in Atlanta. The CEO is Michelle Nunn, who co-founded both Hands On Atlanta and Hands On Network.
Comments
By WorkingforFree?UhNo
June 2, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
Well then…let the execs do all the volunteering— after all they are the ones with the stuffed pockets and free time to have meetings about such things. Personally, after working all week for barely enough money to pay my bills I do not want to go and volunteer. I have enough annoying stuff I have to do on the weekend. It’s not exactly volunteering if someone makes you do it. I think companies would be more successful if they stuck to doing ethical business and actually serving the customer instead of trying to get good PR to make them look good. Let the stay at home moms and dads and unemployed people volunteer.
By Hunter7Taylor
June 2, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
There are numerous benefits to volunteering such as: gaining skills that I would not have acquired in my traditional job, networking with others that I may not have met in any other arena, and by volunteering, business and personal challenges are kept in perspective (i.e., my problems pale in comparison to a family that is homeless or struggling to find their next meal).
Volunteering is something that I have done during times of employment and unemployment. I don’t volunteer because I work for a particular company; it is something I do for me. Additionally, it looks good on a resume by showing that there is work/life balance and I am a more well-rounded individual because of volunteering.
There are a number of worthy non-profits that could use the help. By volunteering your skills one to two hours per week, the organization would be assisted tremendously. The non-profits I have volunteered for are so appreciative and grateful for the help.
It is unfortunate that WorkingForFree is not in the frame of mind to volunteer and thereby receive its benefits.
By Interested Bystander
June 3, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this
Another thing WorkingforFree?UhNo doesn’t realize - many companies provide time “on the clock” for employees to participate in volunteer activities. And while some companies may expect participation in a particular volunteer activity or volunteer day (for which an employee may be paid), there is a growing number of companies that permit the employee to volunteer at any 501(c)3 organization.
Frankly, I think WorkingforFree?UhNo is probably just a crank and has not experienced the satisfaction of helping others. What a lovely person to be around all the time …
By ItsAllAboutMe
June 3, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
WorkingforFree?UhNo missed the point of volunteering to make your company look good. As Hunter7Taylor stated, look at all the benefits YOU can get out of it. You can network yourself into a job you’re not qualified for, pad your resume as a great guy/gal, and get free training. It’s a great idea for a company to pay it’s employees to inefficiently do work they normally don’t do so executives and suck ups can feel good about themselves.
By egypt
June 3, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Bold: Workingforfree, what you fail to realize is that when you do good for someone else, you ALWAYS get that back.
If there were more corporations who participated in volunteerism, we may not have so many lay off’s. Karma can be created in “good ways” too.
I agree that the exec’s should put in work too, and most do, however, if they are willing to give you a “full days” pay for a few hours of service…by all means jump on it!
A couple of my favorite quotes:
“Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, but they have the heart”-Anonymous
“Blessed is the influence of of one true, loving human soul on another”-George Eliot
By Veronica Gonzalez
June 6, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
We are comparing two things that are not comparable by the standards Working for Free is evaluating the opportunities businesses are opening for their workforce.
If for no else do it for self-pleasure. Please review sites that show research of the health of those who volunteer vs. those who opt to not volunteer. It is clear that volunteers suffer less depression, high blood pressure and a new research is looking at on-set of dementia of those who volunteer. I have worked with volunteers for 15 years and I have concluded that healthy longevity is related to the positive attitude volunteers naturally possess. Best wishes to you and I hope you find a job that you love beyond your wildest dream. May you find your job to be play and then maybe your views towards volunteering will expand.
Volunteers do it because they want to, not because they can. Ronnie Gonzalez
By MypeFeaveva
September 3, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
i don`t understand, but TY .