Give a little, gain a lot!

Volunteerism as a corporate advantage

By Ann Stevens

Two thirds of Canada’s 6.5 million volunteers are part of the paid workforce.

Increasingly, companies are putting in place formal programs to encourage their employees and retirees to volunteer.

If an employee volunteers 50 to 90 hours with a single organization over one year, KPMG donates $400 to that organization in the employee’s name.

For many people, the stereotype of a volunteer is someone who has spare time and is willing to do various unpaid jobs for agencies in need. But in 21st century Canada, two-thirds of Canada’s 6.5 million volunteers are part of the paid workforce. Most are employed full time. And for many, their employers actively support this community involvement, in more ways than one.

According to Barbara Landry, executive director of Volunteer & Information Kingston, volunteer centres are seeing growing numbers of volunteers come from the corporate ranks.

“Whether these people work for a small local business, or a large national firm, employees are a new and emerging talent pool of people who bring new ideas, energy and specialized skills to volunteering activities and responsibilities,” says Landry. “Increasingly, companies are putting in place formal programs to encourage their employees and retirees to volunteer. This enhances employee satisfaction when they see how the company they are working for is connected to the community around them.”

Landry acknowledges that, quite naturally, the company gains an enhanced public relations profile through being seen as connected to its community above and beyond the corporate bottom line.

Recruitment asset

Jeff Hanley, a chartered accountant with the international accounting firm KPMG, is one of this new breed of volunteers. Currently he volunteers his professional skills as treasurer. Although he is a busy audit manager with a young family, he says his life is enriched through community involvement.

KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services, has formal policies in place to encourage its employees in community involvement. Operating in 144 countries with more than 104,000 professionals working in member firms around the world, including 4,300 employees in Canada, KPMG has a foundation serving as a catalyst in mobilizing its employees to make contributions to their communities.

According to KPMG, if an employee volunteers 50 to 90 hours with a single organization over one year, the firm donates $400 to that organization in the employee’s name. For 100 hours of volunteer service, KPMG contributes $800.