How Corporate Volunteering Boost Workplace Productivity

If giving means doing the “right thing,” then doing the right thing offers practical rewards. But it’s not just a nice sentiment. For your business, giving back isn’t always a straight line to better performance. In fact, it can tank your top talent.

Adam Grant, Wharton’s highest-rated professor, laid out this paradox in his book, “Give and Take.” He found givers populate both the top and bottom ranks of performers. The difference? How and when they give.

“Across occupations, if you examine the link between reciprocity styles and success, the givers are more likely to become champs—not only chumps”—Adam Grant, “Give and Take," Pg. 7

Grant categorizes people into “givers,” “takers,” and “matches.” Givers prioritize others’ needs. Takers prioritize their own. Matches seek reciprocity. This isn’t about virtue; it’s about a strategic lever that can either elevate your team or drain it dry.

Givers come in all types. Sometimes, it’s hard to distinguish them from those exploiting a situation for personal gain. Let’s assume we’re talking about civic-minded volunteers with no ulterior motives. When giving, employees face choices.

1. International corporate philanthropy

The ambition behind corporate giving can surprise you. We’re seeing more corporate-owned non-profits. They constantly seek volunteers.

Take ICVolunteers (International Communications Volunteers). It’s an international non-profit specializing in communications. They promote economic growth and environmental stewardship in developing countries, organizing conferences and managing communication efforts. Multiple corporations own it. It doesn’t aim to change a specific company’s internal culture.

Still, it offers rewards for both the employee and their employer. This work influences an individual’s general attitude. That, in turn, can shift the culture where they work. You might spot it on a resume and see a dedicated employee.

2. Corporate volunteer programs

Employee disengagement costs you. A Gallup survey from 2011 showed 71% of American workers weren’t engaged. Worse, 19% were “actively disengaged.” This isn’t just a number; it’s a drag on your bottom line.

Corporate volunteer programs offer a direct counter. They vary in scope. An after-school robotics program, for instance, piques local kids’ interest. It gives your engineering team a way to vent their tinkering impulses. It also ties your company’s culture to the community’s. That local goodwill matters.

These programs help your givers give. They channel that energy into something productive for the team and the community.

3. Employee satisfaction & productivity

Engaged employees invest more of themselves. They commit to your business’s success. This builds loyalty. They promote your company’s mission, strategy, and brand.

Engaged employees are often your top performers. They go the extra mile. A more engaged employee is motivated, efficient, and less prone to absenteeism. They’ll even promote your business events and news through their social media accounts.

These behaviors apply anywhere: in a community, your family, or an organization. Every legitimate chance to volunteer has merit. It moves your team beyond just showing up.