HP INNOVATION FALL / WINTER 2022 39 use their skills for pro bono work , donate to causes they care about through the company ’ s matching-gifts program , and build leadership skills by serving on nonprofit boards .
“ In the old days , a typical program might involve serving in a soup kitchen for an hour or mentoring in a conference room . Those types of programs are still rewarding for employees , but today we try to engage employees on an even deeper level ,” Smith says . In one program , for example , NBC- Universal partnered with the organization
buildOn to pair NBCUniversal employees with students from under-resourced high schools for several days of leadership training and service learning activities .
Smith says NBCUniversal includes an educational component in volunteer programs , giving employees a chance to learn about the nonprofits they ’ re partnering with and the communities they ’ re helping as a way of building long-term value for everyone involved .
“ We really try to make sure it ’ s an immersive experience that ’ s meaningful and can help build empathy ,” she says .
A deeper commitment to employees and community When crafting employer-sponsored volunteer programs , it ’ s important to remember that Gen Z isn ’ t just looking to check a box , according to Schoppe . She says they are driven by moral issues and a sense of responsibility not only to society but to their community , and they want their employer to participate .
“ They want to see their executives and leadership buy in ,” Schoppe says . “ It cannot be inauthentic .”
Tamura ’ s volunteer experience at HP was part of a company-sponsored program called “ 40 Days of Doing Good ”— an annual global campaign in which the HP Foundation invites employees and partners to volunteer individually or with their teams for causes in their community .
When crafting the program , Stephanie Bormann , Deputy Director of the HP Foundation , and Carole Lam-Chin , its Volunteer Program Manager , say it is important to allow employees to do something with their managers and colleagues together in their local communities , as opposed to HP ’ s leadership dictating how things
“ In the old days , a typical program might involve serving in a soup kitchen for an hour or mentoring in a conference room . Those types of programs are still rewarding for employees , but today we try to engage employees on an even deeper level .”
— HILARY SMITH , EVP , CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY , NBCUNIVERSAL
should work . Another important factor : aligning company priorities with employees ’.
“ HP founders Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard wanted to be good global citizens ,” Bormann says . “ The values they championed continue to guide us . I keep those in mind as we try to make volunteering an integral part of the company and the way HP shows up in our communities .”
Careworks Foundation , teaching leadership and STEM skills to young boys in Houston , and even a remote volunteering option with
Missing Maps , creating maps of rural and vulnerable areas that can aid disaster relief efforts .
“ We ’ ve seen more and more employees really enjoy that flexibility and option to volunteer virtually ,” Lam-Chin says .
Employees want to help shape programs Holly McCaleb , director of corporate social responsibility consulting at Points of Light , says typically when companies reach out for help with volunteer outreach , it ’ s because employees have asked for it , or the company has seen a drop in recruitment .
Smith says understanding what matters to employees and including them in selecting and designing volunteer opportunities is critical to a program ’ s success . Whether it ’ s a feedback loop of surveys or during office hours , employees need a seat at the table with the ability to give input , she says . Lam-Chin agrees , noting that the HP Foundation convenes its network of employee champions every month , where they can share best practices and activities they are spearheading .
“ This forum enables employees to drive greater interest in projects they are passionate about , and in some cases , creates a groundswell for global participation ,” she explains .
For younger employees like Tamura , that willingness to collaborate with employees and provide opportunities for them to make a positive impact through their work is becoming more than an extra benefit — it ’ s an expectation .
“ As companies move forward and hire more young people , they really have to pay attention to this ,” Tamura says . “ Gen Zers don ’ t just want to work for a company for profit . We know there are other companies that will fit our morals and ethics , and we will go there .”