{"id":48749,"date":"2022-03-04T17:13:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T17:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=48749"},"modified":"2022-11-01T17:24:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T00:24:28","slug":"3-ways-to-create-volunteer-programs-that-nurture-employee-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/3-ways-to-create-volunteer-programs-that-nurture-employee-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Create Volunteer Programs That Nurture Employee Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article was updated and republished in March 2022. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past two years, the employee mindset has shifted rather dramatically \u2014 to now expecting more satisfaction from the organisations they work for. And no, we\u2019re not talking about more money or more annual leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re talking about increased accountability and transparency over the things that impact the world. The pandemic has allowed employees all over the world to find their true north in terms of what\u2019s important and to find an organisation that reflects these values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This principled evolution has been one of the main factors behind the Great Resignation.<\/a> Organisations that are not taking action on important issues such as diversity, sustainability and charitable endeavours, are losing talent to those that are<\/a>. But, what about organisations that believe in these values and want to take action however are unsure of where to start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteer time off (VTO) programs can be a powerful tool in an organisation\u2019s mission to recruit and keep employees who are the right fit for the business. A meaningful VTO scheme demonstrates a business is willing to walk the talk on its values \u2014 and that\u2019s highly appealing to customers and employees alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here at Salesforce, our VTO program<\/a> is part of our 1-1-1 model<\/a> which we use to fulfil co-founder Marc Benioff\u2019s vision of a world made better by business. Each Salesforce employee is afforded seven paid VTO days per year, where they can put our shared values into action. These and other impact drivers fall under our concept of \u2018citizen philanthropy\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizen philanthropy is an umbrella term that covers every approach to giving back that\u2019s fueled by the belief that individuals offering their time, talent and resources can affect real change. I felt this first hand, when I spent my first year volunteering with the Raise Foundation<\/a>, a Salesforce partner and nonprofit that mentors young people and trains new mentors. Through helping kids become more resilient and empowered, I personally was opening the doors of opportunity and providing a lasting impact on these kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have seen the extraordinary benefits of citizen philanthropy up close and personal, and Salesforce is proof that a well-managed VTO program contributes to employees strengthening the communities they care about. Salesforce\u2019s James Pham is a prime example of using a volunteer program as a launchpad to discover a passion for good works. This year, he completed his Lifeline Crisis Supporter Internship, which required 56 hours of training in over-the-phone crisis support and crucial skills development (recognising abuse, learning about suicide). He now works part time for Lifeline and volunteers to mentor new crisis supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a wider lens, Aussie and Kiwi Salesforce employees clocked 41,768 VTO hours and donated just over USD$307,000 over the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But of course, implementing a volunteer program is rarely straightforward. For a VTO to take hold and add value to an organisation\u2019s culture, it has to be carefully planned and managed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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