Three reasons workplace giving is good for your team

Workplace Giving Month might be coming to an end, but you haven’t missed your chance. We look at why a giving program might be the key to driving engagement and boosting morale all year around  

These days, many employees value workplaces that offer more than a desk and a fortnightly pay packet.  

One of the ways an organisation can step up is by setting up a workplace giving program. 

According to research by Workplace Giving Australia, these programs boost engagement levels within staff, and in some cases result in valuable employees staying longer with the organisation. 

Read more: The rise of workplace giving

There are a few different ways to set up a workplace giving program, but one of the most common arrangements is for an organisation to match individual donations to a charity partner until the financial goal is reached. 

Still not sure if it is right for your workplace? We talked to Jenny Geddes, CEO of Workplace Giving Australia, for some of her top reasons why a workplace giving program is a great idea. 

You’re working towards a shared purpose 

If morale is a little low, sometimes you need to look outside of what you do in your day-to-day job to fix it.  

Uniting your team around the shared goal of raising money for a good cause not only helps someone or something in need, but gives your employees something to work towards. 

“Workplace giving programs give employees a sense of having a shared purpose, which really boosts engagement levels and loyalty to a company,” Geddes said. 

It attracts the next generation 

A big priority for younger generations is to work for an organisation that aligns with their values. 

We’re not suggesting you turn your company into a charity to appeal to younger staff, but Geddes said having a workplace giving program will make your organisation much more attractive to this generation. 

“Younger workers are really looking for these programs and they’re looking for employers to actually provide the opportunity to do something that is really meaningful,” she said. 

You can go beyond the donation 

These programs can go beyond just donating a lump sum each month to a charity of your choice. Depending on the type of relationship you have with your partner charity, there are opportunities to host events and information sessions on how the donations are being used and how employees can become more involved in the charity. 

“The most successful workplace giving programs are when it’s a true partnership between a company, the employees and the charity,” Geddes said. 

“So a lot of companies use Workplace Giving Month as the time to actually get the charities coming into the workplace, or giving a talk over Zoom, so that employees can really connect with the cause.”