One of the greatest initiatives for any organization to invest in is community outreach. Commitment to corporate social responsibility, according to SHRM, impacts employees on a variety of levels. The biggest correlation is that community involvement drives overall engagement. Engaged employees will surpass expectations to help their organization succeed. These individuals have the mindset that when their company wins, everyone wins.
A Stronger Organization
As stated by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, organizations that show interest in their community receive many benefits.
- Stronger business reputation
- Positive goodwill
- Employee respect
- Local networking and connections
- Differentiation
- Customer and employee attraction, retention
As there is growth in these areas, the more enticing a company will be. On both a personal and social level, investing in community outreach opportunities engages employees.
Benefits to the Individual
In a study from 2013 on ASBTDC, 82% of consumers considered social responsibility when deciding where to spend their money on a product or service. Building an emotional connection between work and life balance is human nature. Employees will invest their time in things that carry significance to them.
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, humans long to uplift their self-esteem after considering the basic needs of survival. Involvement in outreach initiatives meets this psychological need. Many candidates choose to be engaged with companies committed to community service.
Summary
The benefit of this commitment goes both ways. As told by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, community outreach provides positive returns to local charities while also increasing company reputation, engagement, and performance. Corporate Social Responsibility strengthens organizations and the communities in which they serve.
