Wondering how to keep your employees happy? You’re not alone. After the Great Resignation, it became clear that people are rethinking what a great job really looks like—and nearly half are willing to leave to find it. But here’s the thing, it’s not just about the money. Employees want more from their workplaces, and employer hosted volunteer programs can help foster a deeper sense of fulfillment beyond day-to-day work. If you’re not convinced yet, here are four reasons volunteering programs are beneficial to both employees and employers.

1. Attract and retain talent:

Today’s employees want jobs with purpose that allow them to make an impact. This is especially true for Gen-Z and millennial jobseekers. When a company actively supports volunteering, it reinforces a positive culture that aligns with employees’ personal values, making them more likely to stay long-term. Companies with volunteer or giving programs have a better chance of attracting and retaining talent.

2. Boost employee engagement:

Volunteering can positively impact employee morale by lowering stress, improving mood, and strengthening team collaboration. Happy employees have higher job satisfaction and outperform their competition by up to 20%.

3. Develop leadership skills within your team:

Volunteering, especially skill-based volunteering, can help employees grow their skills and explore new talents. Volunteering can also set the stage for leadership skills to flourish and allow organizations to identify employees who have an affinity to lead.

4. Strengthen community relationships and brand image:

Corporate volunteering and giving programs are a great way to build and maintain strong community ties. Your employees are your brand ambassadors and by showing up together and doing good in the community you can organically deepen your brand image.

A company is only as strong as the community it serves. Here at ALTRES, we’re proud to support our employees in giving back to causes they care about through our Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. This program provides 16 hours of paid time off for employees to do meaningful work across our state. We’ve witnessed firsthand how service brings people together, strengthens employee engagement, and creates lasting change in our community.

If you’re looking for new ways to engage your employees, consider encouraging them to give back and help foster a culture of generosity.