Corporations around the world donate billions of dollars to charitable causes every year, most of which goes into providing food, shelter and medical services to the poor. There is no question that this is a good thing for the community at large, but the surprising benefits of charitable giving by companies and businesses are those that they themselves gain. It may seem counterintuitive, but when corporations donate their money and other resources to charitable groups, support community projects, and initiate sustainability programs, the good that they do comes back around to benefit them as well.
You may wonder, how can generosity benefit your business? Well, it has something to do with how your own employees perceive your company. Employees are more likely to have a positive view of a company if it puts its resources into making a real difference in the world. The fact that your company is helping people makes work more meaningful for your employees. They will be happier, more fulfilled and prouder of their work, and theyll be more inclined to increase their productivity. To help you better understand how corporate generosity can improve your employees productivity, lets look at what experts have discovered so far.
Corporate generosity fosters a positive company culture
A good company culture makes employees feel like they are part of a community. While corporate cultures may differ from organization to organization, there are some components that are the same, and a generous spirit is one of them. Most corporate cultures instil in employees the idea that they are part of something bigger than themselves, and that they are working towards a greater cause. When a company gives generously to worthy causes, those assertions becomes true, and employees start believing that the company is truly dedicated to its culture and mission.
Of course, charity isn’t the central focus of most companies unless they are non-profit organizations but when they involve their employees in organizing charity events and initiating community programs, their employees become more engaged. If a company gives its employees opportunities to participate in charitable events, it will end up creating a strong tradition that will instil in the employees a sense of ownership over the company, and a sense of pride over their jobs, both of which will increase their appreciation for the companys culture and make them more dedicated to their work.
Most companies are generous givers, but they could still step up their efforts
Generous giving has been a practice of many companies for years, but some companies arent too keen on it. Giving back to the community is something that every company should try to do, not just to buy some goodwill with their customers, but also to show their employees that they care about more than just making profits.
If you want to organize charity events for your employees, any time of year can work, but events like that are more meaningful and more memorable when they are organized around holidays. Most people tend to be more generous around holidays, so when the company they work for is the same way, they’ll believe that it shares their values. Employees are more likely to love their jobs if they feel that their values and the companys values are perfectly aligned.
What you should do to foster a culture of generosity in your company
Employees prefer to work for generous organizations, so you should highlight your companys generous spirit by articulating it in your mission statement. If your mission statement claims that you want to make the world a better place, generous giving can help you achieve that goal. Its good for your employees to see you living up to the words of your mission statement because reports indicate that businesses on a mission tend to be more successful.
Finally, maximize your employees involvement in your charity plans. Let them be part of the decision making process and the organizing. You can ask them to take a vote on which charities you will be backing, or which community programs you will be initiating. Allow them to contribute in whatever way they can, and give them the time to do what needs to be done to make the charity plans successful. When your employees get to participate in a meaningful charity event, theyll feel that they are part of an organization that does good, and theyll work harder to make that organization more successful. In other words, theyll be more productive.