Paid Volunteer Service

Companies are giving employees paid time off to volunteer in the community. Companies adopted this new benefit in order to compete competitively for millennials who “don't want to park [their] values at the door” and to reduce turn over inside their company (Needleman). In addition to traditional pro bono services, they are now giving employees anywhere between eight hours and unlimited time off to volunteer. The main goals in adopting the practice of providing paid volunteer hours are to reduce turn over, entice millennials, and create better community relationships. According to Forbes, the volunteer programs currently in place “improve employee morale, develop leadership skills and enhance your recruitment efforts” (Stinson). All these

In a recent Gallup report, they concluded that seventy percent of full-time employees feel disengaged at work (Snyder). According to Annie Baxter of NPR, U.S. Bank’s employee satisfaction and enthusiasm increased during the time its volunteer program has been active. Paid volunteer time engages previously disengaged employees and increases work output from those employees. According to Michael Stroik in a Fast Company article, "a highly engaged workforce is more likely to exert extra effort and have lower turnover rates, which can be linked to increased output, sales, and profitability." In addition, volunteering and giving to charity has health benefits. According to the UnitedHealth Group study in Fast Company, seventy-eight percent of people who volunteered within the pas year reported lower stress levels and seventy-six percent said they felt healthier because of volunteering. This means that those volunteering employees will be less likely to use sick days and spend more days in the

Rob Rivenburgh, MARS's COO said that “every company should have a formalized social responsibility program; the return on investment is profound” (Vozza). In recruiting, volunteer time off policies helps recruit the top candidates in the field (Vozza). According to a study featured in Stinson’s Forbes article, sixty-one percent of millennials reported that an “employer’s commitment to its community would play a role in their decision to accept or decline a job offer”. The benefit of being able to pursue projects that both benefit the community and are employee passion projects has become a major perk that many millennials are seeking during their job search