Recruiting talented employees is becoming more and more of a problem in many industries. That means it's time to tap into what job-seekers really want. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that sixty million Americans volunteer their time every year. One survey reveals that 62 percent of respondents prefer to work for employers that offer volunteer opportunities through the job. Firms that harness this drive can not only attract high quality individuals and gain the loyalty of their staff members, but they can also benefit society as a whole by fostering social responsibility.

Here is what one business has done. At this thriving Washington D.C. firm, the commitment to community service started before the business began. "Serving not-for-profits is what we've always been about," says one of the cofounders. "Close to 98 percent of the work we do is for this sector." On their Web site you'll see a phrase that has become something of a mantra, that is, “giving back is part of the job”. When they recruit, their reputation for community service precedes them. People want to work for employers who share their values. That not only makes recruitment easier, but shared values tends to generate loyalty from the staff, which may help explain why their retention rate is so high.

Top-Down Commitment

For a volunteer program to be effective, the commitment needs to be real. At the Washington D.C. firm, it starts at the top. The cofounders and other partners give to the not-for-profit community in terms of financial support and time, by providing these agencies with countless hours of pro-bono services. One way they demonstrate their social responsibility is by encouraging staff to serve on boards of local not-for-profits. Currently, dozens of their employees are doing just that. Staff members also frequently give up their lunch hours to help out at an organization near their office that has become a favorite cause among the staff. The program is called Reading Buddy, and is designed to encourage children to read.

If you visit this firm on a certain Friday each month, you might be surprised by the sea of blue jeans. They call it Denim Day. Once a month, employees come to work in jeans so they can dig in and hold some kind of fundraiser that will benefit a randomly selected charity. Whatever the amount the staff raises, the partners match.

While this large firm may have more resources to fulfill the mission of serving not-for-profits than some firms do, even the smallest business can find ways to let employees volunteer. One California office that has limited staff does it this way: once employees have met their existing deadlines, they are free to donate some of their work hours to do pro-bono work for not-for-profits.

Besides the satisfaction of being socially responsible, individuals and firms that participate in community service can enjoy other benefits as well. Generally, volunteers learn such skills as teamwork, communication, and time management, and they learn to take initiative and to view life positively. When firm members from different departments volunteer for the same organization, interaction between the departments improves. Smart employers recognize the power of community service to help individuals develop both personally and professionally. In fact, one survey done in the UK indicates that about 58 percent of employers will give more weight to applicants who have done significant volunteer work than those with paid work experience.

If establishing an effective volunteer program is something your firm would like to try, you can find help by logging onto Volunteer Match. Volunteer Match will show you how to track volunteer hours, promote events, and set guidelines.

Allowing employees to stretch their wings and become active in volunteer work has long-reaching power... power to improve the community and power to develop a loyal staff with the potential for leadership. If managed well, this is one employee benefit where everyone involved can end up on the winning team.