By: Mollye Rhea
Employee engagement has become the most universal type of nonprofit/corporate partnership activity, with 90% of companies supporting it. Understand what employees want, why companies are listening, and ways nonprofits can take the lead.
All data behind the trends is available in our 2022 Social Impact Stats Compendium.
Employees seek meaning now more than ever
Employees want flexibility and a balanced work life. They also need to feel their jobs make a difference—and not just to them. They’re looking for employers to do something that improves the quality of life for others, in their community or across the globe.
The data behind the trend
- 84% of employees will only work for purpose-driven companies/brands. (Purpose Under Pressure, 2022)
- 72% of employees are more likely to apply for a job at a socially responsible company. (Sustainability at a Turning Point, IBM, 2021)
- When considering potential employers, Gen Z ranks these as their top three attributes: 1. Fair treatment of all employees 2. Quality of life and employer flexibility 3. Corporate social responsibility (National Society of High School Scholars, 2022)
Employee engagement partnership example
JoyRx partnered with 19 companies to offer their employees the Every Minute Counts challenge. Employees received an app to increase and track their minutes of wellness activity, while enabling them to raise funds for seriously ill kids. Minutes translated to dollars, and gamification, prizes and premium wellness content kept employees motivated.
Employees have more say in which nonprofits their employers support
Employees want to work for companies that demonstrate their shared values like social justice and environmental impact. Giving employees opportunities to support a cause that resonates results in greater engagement and satisfaction.
The data behind the trend
- 79% of CSR leaders surveyed say employees are now the top audience influencing their company’s nonprofit partner selection. (For Momentum, 2022)
- Employees want to work for businesses whose values align with their own. 41% of respondents said an employer’s ethics and values were important factors in their engagement. (IBM, 2021)
- 59% of young people say they strongly agree that the more socially and environmentally responsible their company becomes, the more motivated and loyal they become to their company. (Globescan, 2020)
- 43% of companies report environment/climate change as the top cause they focus on when selecting a nonprofit partner. (For Momentum, 2022)
Employee engagement partnership example
Through the Citizen Verizon Volunteers program, Verizon is awarding employees with $750 for every 50 hours of volunteer work completed. Opportunities are organized around causes employees are passionate about, including bridging the digital divide, climate protection and skill building in vulnerable communities.
The roster of nonprofit partners is extensive and includes niche causes like Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Love for Our Elders and The Trevor Project.
As stakeholders, employees are considered as important as customers
The Great Resignation and resulting talent shortages have left no doubt that employee satisfaction directly impacts business success. Companies now see clearly that the contributions of its workers, both on the job and on their own time, are paramount.
The data behind the trend
- Employees (79%) now outweigh the needs of the community (75%) and consumers (44%) in terms of the audience companies want to influence most with their cause activities. (For Momentum, 2022)
- Business units with engaged workers have 23% higher profit compared to business units with miserable workers. (Gallup, 2022)
- Teams with thriving workers see significantly lower absenteeism, turnover and accidents; they also see higher customer loyalty. (Gallup, 2022)
- 88% of employees believe it’s no longer acceptable for companies to just make money; companies must positively impact society as well. (Porter Novelli, 2020)
Employee engagement partnership example
Major fashion retailer Express partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America on the Big Futures Initiative, which helps young people ages 18 to 25 achieve their goals after high school graduation. Express aims to engage 10,000 associates in completing 100,00 volunteer hours by 2024, as well as making point-of-sale donations at its annual employee clothing sale.
What do you think of our partnership examples and data-backed trends? Do they make sense in your space? Let’s connect to keep the conversation going.
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