professionals have advised on how to motivate employees

November 12, 2011 - What can make employees feel that their work is enjoyable and has a sense? According to a recent survey, the answer is: employee volunteering experience, which is supported by their own employers. Responsible companies can provide the surrounding community with not only financial aid, but also with employees' abilities, experience and time, too. 

“A number of Slovak companies have attended many seminars on responsible entrepreneurship and are now putting the theory into practice,” said Andrew Wilson from Corporate Citizenship, a company based in London, which tries to help companies better manage the workplace in the field of responsible entrepreneurship. “In the first place, firms should realize how they contribute to a sustainable society, and how they can do it better and more effectively with the lowest possible impact on the environment as well as the community,” said Wilson on the Forum on Responsible Entrepreneurship organized by Pontis Foundation. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of corporate volunteering.

 “The survey results show that employees with volunteering experience are more satisfied and consequently work more efficiently. Moreover, the companies have less staff fluctuation, and save money by reducing training costs, since the employees can gain new exprerience doing volunteeting work,” Andrew Wilson named the benefits of the employee volunteering. Also Chris Jarvis, the Co-Founder and Senior Consultant for Realized Woth, a leading emploee volunteering and CSR consulting firm located in Canada, has tried to convince the managers and company representatives on the forum. “Volunteering in your country has a negative tradition thanks to the previous regime but note how many people look forward to their job after they get up,” he asked.

According to him, thirty percent of people are totally demotivated and hate their job. “They feel like being imprisoned. But, on the other hand, there are also enthusiastic employees, who love their job. The more motivated your staff, the higher your profit will be. At the same time, employees are more committed to the job if they know the meaning of it,” he explained. To achieve this, managers can give their staff time off work to pursue volunteer activities, which add value to their work. “Meanwhile, employees learn how to work in a team, they are brought together and consequently get to know each other better. Once you get to know the others, you become even more productive. Furthermore, your employees are excellent representatives of your brand,” he advised. The fourth Forum on Corporate Philanthropy offered ideas on how we can motivate employees, even in times of crisis, and develop their abilities, which makes them enthusiastic about their work and creates a work environment that is more conducive to creative work.