It's been a tough year for companies and workers who are being challenged to do more with less, but also for charities that face increasing demands for their services. That's why many organizations are encouraging their employees to volunteer - even allowing them to do so on company time. Here are some of their experiences.
Delta Hotels and Resorts
Program: Delta Community Cruiser
Employees are encouraged to volunteer, on their own time, for charities, including Habitat for Humanity Canada, which this year became a company charitable partner.
Number involved: About 1,600 employees from the 44 Delta properties across Canada.
New this year: Delta Community Cruiser was a summer-long program in which six Delta employees on salary travelled around the country to work with local charities to help organize fundraising events.
The cost: Materials for a house building sponsored by the company ran to about $80,000. Costs of driving across the country were partly covered by Toyota Canada.
The payoff: While he can't yet quantify it with numbers, Delta president and CEO Hank Stackhouse says it is clear employee engagement has risen this year because of the program. "And higher employee satisfaction leads to higher customer satisfaction. We have seen increases every month this year in guest loyalty and satisfaction."
Deloitte & Touche
Program: Impact Day
One-day projects, such as serving food to the homeless, or spending time with seniors at nursing homes, or mentoring immigrants.
Number involved: 4,700 of Deloitte's 7,700 staff and families.
New this year: More than 100 employees got yesterday afternoon off to ride stationary bikes for a charity fundraiser in Toronto. This Saturday, Impact Day, thousands of employees and their families will do charitable projects.
Cost: In past years, closing the office for a day meant $5-million in lost work. This year, the main event is on a weekend, so it is not considered a direct expense.
The payoff: A growing participation rate shows the program is a morale booster, says Deloitte partner Eric Girard. "And Deloitte prides itself on being a good corporate citizen in this difficult economy in which community agencies that support people need help more than ever."
Microsoft Canada
The program: I Volunteer
The company allows employees to take up to 40 hours a year off with pay to do volunteer work. The company will also donate up to $1,300 worth of hardware and software to the charity they work for.
Number involved: About 150 of the 1,000 Microsoft employees in Canada.
New this year: The number of employees taking volunteer leave is up 5 per cent this year. A lot more employees are forming groups to help charities.
The payoff: For the company, the program is a great attractor of talent, and retention levels are higher than in the industry, says Gavin Thompson, director of corporate citizenship. "And because the employees are proud of the company, we find their productivity is higher."
"What I love about it is the simplicity. There are some very complex corporate programs," Mr. Thompson says.
L'Oréal Canada
The program: Corporate Citizenship Employees are encouraged to volunteer for charitable work. In the past it has been on their own time.
New this year: In lieu of a party to celebrate the company's centennial, the company developed a partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Canada. Employees will be allowed to leave early from work to mentor their big brothers or big sisters.
Number involved: Announced this week, the goal is 60 employees, about 5 per cent of the work force, mentoring about 100 children.
The cost: The only direct cost is the time lost from a shift, which other employees generally fill in for.
The payoff: Response on employee surveys was enthusiastic. Ye idea of mentoring children was a particularly appeal because many of the employees are women and average age is about 35, says spokesperson Teresa Menna.
By the numbers
71
Percentage of businesses that either support or accommodate employee volunteering
52
Percentage of businesses with corporate programs that allow employees to take time or leaves with pay for volunteer work.
2.1 billion
The total number of hours volunteered in Canada, equivalent to 1.1 million full-time jobs.
76
Average number of hours a volunteer contributes annually.
12
Percentage of volunteers considered "top volunteers," accounting for 78 per cent of all volunteer hours.
171
Average number of hours a top volunteer contributes annually.
Sources: Volunteer Canada, Imagine Canada and Statistics Canada.