Giving Back By Hunter R. Slaton

Take Away

Time (Off) Is onYour Side

Organizations have discovered that offering employees paid time off to perform volunteer work and community service is a win-win. Here’s why you might consider a similar program—and what you need to know to build it right.

Bank ofAmerica (BoA) has what Susan Portu- gal, the company’s corporate social responsibili- ty philanthropy director, calls “an absolute com- mitment to volunteerism” that runs “from our CEOon down.” Of course, a lot of corporations also say that—but BoAbacks it up in a variety of ways, perhaps none more important than its paid-time-off volunteer benefit, which grants employees two hours a week to give back. “Agood percentage of employees take advan-

tage of this opportunity,” Portugal said. Last year, BoA’s nearly 300,000 employees collectively logged more than one million volunteer hours. “And,” Por- tugal said, “that’s just the people that logged their hours.” In terms of em-

ployee morale, a

paid-time-off programis invaluable.BoAemploy- ees particularly enjoy the teambuilding aspect of volunteering. “They see the benefits of personal and professional development,” she said. Being able to advance a cause they care about “really shows up in employees’ satisfaction surveys.” Younger generations are especially proactive about voicing their demand for this benefit. Por- tugal said: “It’s an incredible recruitment tool.” An organization considering instituting paid

time off for volunteerworkshould “start at the end of the equation,” said Portugal, by asking questions such as “What outcomes are we seeking?” and “Why arewe doing this?”Then, reverse-engineer the design of your programbased on the answers. For example, if youwant to help foster “deep and systemic change in acommunity or nonprofit,” as Portugal put it, that might best be served by

encouraging deeper involvement with the nonprof- it’s board of directors, or pro bono work. If the desired outcome is teambuilding, you can achieve that by emphasizing “hands and hearts” group work projects. The Points of Light Institute, a volunteerism

advocacy organization, offers employees two hours a week or one day a month to volunteer.A good way to begin such a program, according to Pat Turner, Points of Light’s chief performance management officer, is to assemble a small team ofemployees to help create it.Why? “Because you want buy-in,”Turner said.“You don’t want vol- unteer service to feel like a mandate.” Next, prime thepumpby initially devoting one

day a month for a department-wide service proj- ect, to make employees feel like they’re able to take time away from their jobs to volunteer. Another good way to launch a volunteer program is to invite a local nonprofit to visit your office and speak to its needs. “That often gets people excit- ed,” Turner said, “because there’s a cause that they’re interested in making a difference around.” And don’t be overambitious. “Start with a

modest program, something that you feel like you could sustain and grow,” Turner said, “because you only get the first chance to make a first impression.” Organizations also should avoid making such a benefit available to some but not all employees, and secure supervisor buy-in. Finally, keep in mind your employees’ skill sets.

The “depth and breadth” of BoA’s employee base, Portugal said, allows it to support everything from “personal passion to business-integrated” service projects. Likewise, meeting professionals could have a great deal to contribute from their own particular skill set, because, Portugal noted, being able to execute “a really top-notch activity for a large number of people…is really a huge gap in some nonprofits’ repertoire.”

ON_THE_WEB: The Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network incorporates more than 70,000 corporate, faith, and nonprofit groups. For more information about how to get your organization involved in volunteer service, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

28 pcma convene June 2011 ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT HANSON

Kitchen Help The National Restaurant Association (NRA) offers its employees paid time off to vol- unteer — two days per calendar year, with a charitable or public organization of their choice, according to NRA spokesperson Annika Stensson. And, testament to Bank of America’s Susan Portugal’s belief that an organi- zation should match its skill set to a proj- ect, NRA also sup- ports quarterly vol- unteer events with Miriam’s Kitchen (www.miriams kitchen.org), a Washington, D.C.– based nonprofit that seeks to feed and provide support services for home- less people.

Hunter R. Slaton is a senior editor of Convene.

Giving Back is sponsored by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, www.fairmont.com.

BANKERS’ HOURS: Bank ofAmerica’s 300,000- plus associates around the world pledged to donate—and subse- quently logged—one million volunteer hours last year.