Sample Plate Series #3:
When companies talk about having a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, we believe that corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism can be incorporated with it. Our recent articles on how volunteer programs like Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO) and Dollars for Doers can engage employees and still meet CSR initiatives is something most companies can do easily. However, if you want to push the envelope and get really creative, then we’d like to talk to you about volunteer assignments.
Some global companies, like IBM, have become very forward thinking when it comes to volunteer programs and CSR efforts. They send employees on one-month volunteer assignments to developing countries (counties like Brazil, Russia, India, China also known as BRIC) so that these underserved communities can have their problems solved. More importantly, IBMers receive leadership training and development, and IBM identifies emerging markets and global leaders. Volunteer assignments give employees a different perspective on issues facing communities around the world. Not only do these employees offer unique solutions to these underserved communities by using their corporate knowledge but also can incorporate local ideas when exploring new markets.
Providing this unique opportunity and benefit attracts star quality students entering the workforce, improves the skills of their current employees and more importantly, is a less expensive source of market research.
Kelly Unplugged
Would you be willing to take a volunteer assignment in a developing country?
About Sample Plate Series:
Food and philanthropy are two of my favorite topics. When I go out to dinner with my husband or best girlfriends, I love ordering several appetizers or sharing meals so I can sample everything (and this way my waist line can stay somewhat intact). Having those experiences got me to thinking how sometimes blog articles are too long and cumbersome; it’s like having a whole meal when I only want a bite.
If you’re anything like me, I want short pieces of information that I can read quickly and get a good idea of what it entails. If the topic peaks my interest, then I can always explore it more. Thus I created my Sample Plate Series. Sample Plate Series are brief blog posts that readers can easily get an understanding or “sample” of the discussion topic. They aren’t too in-depth but give the reader a taste. If this “sample” leaves you hungry for more, then maybe you’ll come back and order an entrée.
