10 statistics that prove employee volunteer programs work

Corporations can engage their employees in a variety of ways from compensation practices to advancement to cultivating a positive workplace culture. Another top engagement strategy is implementing an employee volunteer program. These programs partner with local nonprofit organizations to provide employees with time off to help their communities as a company. 

Of course, before launching a new employee engagement program, corporations should do their research to ensure it will be worth the return on investment. For employee volunteer programs, the numbers more than prove that these initiatives can increase engagement, satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity. 

Interested in seeing for yourself? Here are 10 statistics that show what an employee volunteer program can do for your business:

Employee engagement stats

• Employees who work at corporations with volunteer programs are five times more engaged than their counterparts at businesses without equivalent programs. 
• Of surveyed corporate volunteers, 70% feel volunteering boosted employee morale. 
• 92 percent of respondents to a survey about corporate volunteering believe volunteering helped improve employees' leadership and professional skills. 
• Interviews with employees about their experiences in corporate volunteer programs found that their programs were most fulfilling when employees’ input about causes they support was taken into account.  
• Research has found that employees are increasingly engaging in virtual volunteering with a 30% increase in participation between 2019-2021.

Productivity stats

• Employers who offered volunteer time off for their employees to work in their communities reduced their turnover by 50% and increased productivity by 13%.
• In a survey of Fortune 1000 companies, findings suggested that group volunteering helped bond employees and lead to more productive workplace relationships. 
• 79 percent of volunteers report that volunteering makes them feel better, leading to a healthier, happier workforce. 

Employer branding stats

• Gen Z is entering the workforce, and 90% of them believe that corporations should take a stand to help with social and environmental concerns. 
• Of corporations measuring their volunteer programs’ impact, 38% found they improved their reputation and public trust ratings while another 29% felt their improved their brand perception. 

Launch your employee volunteer program

Employee volunteer programs benefit your employees, your community, and your business. To get started, meet with your employees to learn what causes matter to them and incorporate them into your volunteer program. Then, organize employee volunteer days, offer volunteer time-off, and check in with your employees to receive feedback about how you can continue improving your program and increase employee engagement.