"This company has a culture you can feel—ethical, caring, inclusive, and forward-thinking. We are a financial services company, yet we care greatly about our community and give back, at an individual employee level and at a corporate level. I LOVE working here. As a millennial, I have high expectations. I want to retire from this company, which tells you how special this place is!" - employee at Principal Financial Group, rated #21 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
“I was always resistant to working for a big corporation, but joining Intuit was the best career decision I have ever made. I truly love it and intend to spend the rest of my working days here. People truly care about each other and our customers. ... Our dedication to giving back to the community is enviable. I am personally a leader of an employee network and am given the time and support needed to effectively manage the network and plan and execute activities supporting our community. We are known in the area as a very giving organization, and that is really important to me.” - employee at Intuit, #4 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"This is an extraordinarily special place that really cares about its employees, customers, and community. We are strongly encouraged to give back. I have done everything from volunteering in a soup kitchen, to working at a children's hospital in Morocco—all supported by the company. Most importantly, I look forward to coming to work everyday, working with our wonderful community, and doing satisfying, challenging work.” - employee at Salesforce, #1 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
My friends and family get tired of hearing me talk about how awesome this company is and how much I love my job." - employee at Intuit, #4 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
Millennial employees are different from employees of other generations, and Corporate America is racing to understand them. After all, Millennials will soon represent a majority of the working population, so it’s up to company leaders to figure out how to re-fashion their work cultures to attract the best of the next generation of talent.
Over the years, the Millennial Impact Report has gathered crucial insights about Millennials in the workplace. Through their research, we understand that beyond compensation and benefits, what matters most to Millennials is a company’s work culture, involvement with causes, office environment, and attention to diversity and HR standards. Millennials care about collaboration, and want to connect with their co-workers through a shared belief in their company’s mission and purpose. Millennials want to volunteer together in team building events, and above all they want to feel that they work at a company where cause work is integrated into the organization’s core mission.
Culture is everything for Millennials, and that culture must feel rooted in a sense of purpose.
How can you create an irresistible culture of giving back that will generate the kind of enthusiasm amongst Millennial employees that you see at the “Best Workplaces to Give Back”?
Listen to a recording of our webinar, How to Retain & Attract Millennial Talent, to learn how to increase engagement among Millennials by creating a purpose-driven culture that gives deeper meaning to their work.
"The Impact Day held each year to invest in the community is a fantastic experience. I love being able to tell friends and family that I'm being paid to spend a day volunteering." - employee at Deloitte, #4 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"The employees are incredibly invested in philanthropy, volunteerism, diversity, and giving back. It's amazing to see how much personal time people invest in causes they care about, and how effective they are at mobilizing other employees. Our foundation and volunteerism isn't just a department or policy—it's really a culture of giving that runs deep in the company DNA. It feels good to be a part of it." - employee at Atlassian, #13 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
“Baird fosters a culture in which integrity and professionalism are paramount. Moreover, the company proactively encourages its associates to become immersed in community activities. It encourages this with its own support through the charitable foundation used to further a plethora of worthy causes and non-profit activities. Taken together, these attributes make this firm a great place to work. I look forward to getting up each business day and going to the office!" - employee at Baird, #15 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"I've never worked for a company that gives so much back to the community and allows its employees to take part in charitable activities during work hours. I've always been really impressed by this! I recently participated in a boat race with 40 other Novo Nordisk women. I noticed that our team stood out from the other teams because it was obvious how proud we all were to be representing Novo Nordisk. Maybe that's why we won!" - employee at Novo Nordisk, #16 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
Despite Millennials’ passion for causes, the truth is that they’re not always engaged with their company’s volunteer and giving program. Why not? The Millennial Impact Report finds that barriers include not always understanding the available volunteer and giving opportunities, or not being encouraged to get involved, or not seeing how their participation matters.
Successful companies focus less on specific one-off tactics and more on integrating causes into their overall culture, resonating a spirit of giving back throughout the company. These are the organizations that are more successful at attracting and retaining Millennials as employees.
“The company financially supports people's passions for giving back. The team I work with could all be considered friends. We care about each other's well being and often reach out to share the load of work." - employee at Crowe Harwath, #18 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"The amount of volunteer opportunities and encouragement to participate without fear of missing work time is incredible. Donations are constantly being solicited for various worthy causes. There’s always a chance to give back to people in need and thanks are often provided to participants through meals or snacks brought into the office." - employee at Baird, #15 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"I am very proud to work for a company that is so well-recognized for its contributions to the community, both through corporate donations, employee campaigns, and volunteerism. Not only are employees encouraged to volunteer, we actually have a volunteer hours goal!" - employee at PCL Construction, #19 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
“The thing I think that most separates [Salesforce] from other companies is the focus on giving back. Personally, it provides me with a greater sense of purpose when I come in each day." - employee at Salesforce, #1 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
What are Millennials saying about your company? Are you giving them a reason to be inspired?
It starts at the beginning: a company’s cause work begins to influence most Millennial employees during the interview. While only 39% of Millennial employees said they researched their employer’s cause work prior to the interview, 55% of employees were influenced to take their job after discussing cause work in the interview. Millennials who volunteer with and donate to causes on their own are the most likely to research and consider a company’s cause work during their job search.
Once Millennial interviewees become Millennial employees, company-wide giving campaigns are the initiatives they most commonly participate in. Millennials want to volunteer with their co-workers more than independently, 78% vs. 22%. But they also enjoy skills-based volunteering, with 94% reporting that they enjoy this experience.
"Genentech dedicates one full week in June—the week leading up to Father's Day—to giving back to the community. During this week employees can: donate money while purchasing their lunch in the cafeteria to feed the homeless, participate in the Hay to Beakers Walk—a three mile loop on site that Genentech will donate $25 to children's causes on behalf of every walker, volunteer during work hours for nonprofits, participate in a silent auction to raise money for children's causes, and enter your personal story of giving back in a contest with a chance to win a philanthropic trip to Africa. There are also company groups that provide community outreach opportunities specific to a sector’s business plan and mission statement. For example, the disability group has provided community outreach to several nonprofits that help special needs children. These groups provide development opportunities for employees and provide the community an invaluable amount of volunteer hours by happy, willing. and vested helpers. Win, win." - employee at Genentech, #12 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"The company is always involved in food bank volunteer work, Sam Ministries, and diaper giveaways. I have never worked for a company that wanted to help the community as much as this one." - employee at Nationwide, #10 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
“Over 95% of us donate 1% of our paychecks to enhance the lives of those in need, both locally and as far away as our service members overseas. Every week our foundation shows us a new person or family whose lives we have made a little easier. I'm proud to work for a company with the vision for such a foundation and with people who will give that weekly donation to touch someone else's life." - employee at Veterans United Home Loans, #3 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"There are many things about Ultimate Software that make this a great place to work. The one that makes me feel the most rewarded and proud is the commitment to giving back. That is one of the cornerstones of Ultimate Software’s culture of people first.” - employee at Ultimate Software, #7 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
"The founding principals of the company are still at work today with the absolute commitment to environmental advocacy and product quality. I love being connected to a company with integrity that has put to the test many times over.” - employee at Patagonia, #8 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
The truth is, there is no simple recipe for Millennial engagement.
Learn more about how to attract and retain Millennial talent by creating an irresistible culture of giving back.
"We have a commitment to giving back to the community. I donate a paid week to my favorite non-profit every year. This is time spent giving back to the community that has given so much to my family and me. It’s special to work for a company that thinks that way and puts its money where its mouth is." - employee at VMWare, #14 on Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Workplaces to Give Back
Also read:
In The Age of Trump, Corporate Silence is Suicide
Employee Engagement Quotes That Remind You WHY
How to Get Your Employees Volunteering When They Can't Leave the Office