Why CSR is the Key for Companies to Connect with Gen Z

By |2022-09-28T22:00:58-07:00September 28th, 2022|Categories: Corporate Social Responsibility|

Why CSR is the Key for Companies to Connect with Gen Z

Written By: Memo Ramirez, Marketing Coordinator

Why CSR is the Key for Companies to Connect with Gen Z

Generation Z is quickly entering the workforce with expectations of the companies they work for and their impact on our society and environment. Gen Z is not looking for companies to just give a yearly donation; they want more. This means your current way of doing business will be outdated sooner than you think. For Gen Z, social impact will drive what they buy and where they work. They are looking for organizations that serve society because this generation is built around community and support. Gen Z workers are three times more likely to defend this statement than any other generation. 

Shifts in generational attitudes around companies started with Millennials, but Gen Z is taking the concept of incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into business practices from a nice-to-have to a must-have. Gen Z will make up roughly 27% of the workforce by 2025. Considering the fact that Millennials also share similar views, which would mean within the next decade, most of this country’s workers will expect more from their employers in terms of social responsibility. 

In fact, Gen Z’s attitudes around a company’s greater purpose were a common theme at the 2022 Cause Conference where leaders across all sectors gathered to discuss social impact. The social impact made through CSR initiatives can make a difference in an applicant’s decision to work for a company by providing a greater sense of purpose and the opportunity to work while participating in actions that address issues in their community. Adopting CSR, specifically social impact initiatives, can help reach this generation through building relationships, increasing morale, and collaborating with like-minded organizations.

Builds Strong Relationships 

Incorporating CSR in general practices helps establish a strong relationship between an organization and Gen Z. Sustainability has seen an increased presence in modern education and has encouraged Gen Z to include it in their values. As a result, Gen Z has higher expectations of the companies they shop and apply for, looking for those whose values align with their own. Companies and organizations can build and strengthen their relationships with Gen Z by putting their ethics into action. Social activism has played a massive role in job searches, and finding a route that implements this into practice would encourage younger applicants to consider an organization. One study by Deloitte found that companies are more likely to retain their Gen Z and Millennial employees for more than five years by taking action on the specific needs in their communities in an impactful way.

Increases Employee Morale 

Higher employee morale can be a workplace trait developed or reinforced through CSR activities. Workplaces across the nation are still finding ways to increase morale and connection in a world where remote and hybrid work models are becoming more common. CSR initiatives can provide opportunities to engage employees and allow different departments and generations to collaborate and connect. Overall, good corporate citizenship helps increase employee satisfaction and reduces the risk of employees looking for other jobs.

Gen Z is known for having frequent job changes due to poor working conditions, lack of growth opportunities, or no connection to the mission or purpose of the company. With Gen Z becoming an increasing percentage of the workforce, keeping them engaged must be a priority that starts now. Having employees from other generations guide them on leadership and skill development can encourage a lower turnover rate among staff. CSR can further develop opportunities to engage Gen Z by providing a sense of purpose and pride that their contributions are for the greater good of the community.

Pathway to Collaboration

Leaders from every sector notice a need to attract this new generation of talent and adjust to changing work environments. When implementing a CSR business model, the possibility of networking and collaborating with other organizations in different industries increases. Part of CSR centers on collaborations that can address community issues, motivate employees, and allow for growth for all organizations involved. Utilizing social media to promote these partnerships can increase a brand’s reputation with Gen Z because the actions are visible. This is important because Gen Z wants to see action, not PR or greenwashing.

The time to adjust your business model is now. Being proactive by implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives can lead to a higher retention rate among young minds. The first line of talented Gen Z workers have already started their careers, and more will be entering the workforce in the years to come. Adopting a CSR strategy can be an employer’s response to win them over.

To find out how your organization can utilize CSR practices or enhance your CSR strategy, United Way of San Diego County can help. Our years of working with our corporate partners and giving back to communities have given us a unique ability to unite the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. We can help your company build your CSR program to retain and attract this next generation of talent.

How You Can Help Give Back to the Community

By |2022-04-01T13:24:27-07:00March 30th, 2022|Categories: Corporate Social Responsibility|

How You Can Help Give Back to the Community

Written by: Calina Nguyen, Marketing Coordinator

You Can Change Lives

Are you looking for meaningful ways to give back? Here at United Way of San Diego County, we pride ourselves in offering a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that support local organizations who serve our community. 

Volunteering with United Way of San Diego County brings businesses, individuals, families, and a network of partner agencies together to create community change. We have a range of opportunities where you, your family, your colleagues, or your business can make a real difference in San Diego.

UWSD is proud to partner with hundreds of local businesses to advance their philanthropic giving in the community. From workplace campaigns to volunteerism, UWSD aligns with corporate partners and leverages the time, talent, and treasure of their workforce to transform lives in our community. The pandemic caused many businesses to move their work virtually, significantly impacting workforce culture. As a way to help corporate partners engage their employees from afar and help nonprofits who were on the front lines, United Way of San Diego County shifted its volunteer initiatives to offer virtual formats as well as socially distanced opportunities.

Benefits of Volunteering

Many families and individuals around San Diego County still do not have access to basic necessities such as food and shelter. By volunteering with United Way of San Diego County, you can help provide assistance to those who need it the most. 

Last year, 620 United Way volunteers served more than 6,600 hours. UWSD also helped an additional 814 volunteers find volunteer opportunities with our community partner organizations. UWSD volunteers participate in community programs year-round, from the annual Read Across America book drive and literacy celebration, to the Day of Action initiative over the summer, and the Holiday Donation Drive.

Volunteering is not only beneficial for the community but a way one can find personal fulfillment. For example, building a sense of purpose, gaining experience, and building connections.

How to Get Involved

There are many volunteer opportunities to get involved in, such as hair-styling services, one-on-one computer tutoring, transporting meals, and so much more. We have engaging opportunities for you to give back to San Diego through your time and your talents.

Are you ready to get hands-on in your community? Head over to our volunteer portal where you can find the volunteer opportunity that resonates with you the most. You can filter by date, distance, keywords, and more. Once you’ve chosen the volunteer program, simply fill out a quick form in which organizers will reach out to you on how to get started.

To sign up for these opportunities, please visit our volunteer opportunities portal ➡ https://volunteer.uwsd.org/

How to Engage Employees and Give Back to the Community

By |2021-09-28T23:50:26-07:00September 28th, 2021|Categories: Corporate Social Responsibility|

How to Engage Employees and Give Back to the Community

Written by: Sara Portillo, Director Marketing & Communications

The “world of work” has changed significantly over the past 18 months, to say the least. Many companies are struggling to keep their employees engaged and motivated in a remote or hybrid setting. And with virtual work normalized during the pandemic, many companies plan to continue remote work into the future.  

One of the most important topics of discussion to come out of remote work is company culture. In a survey by PwC, most executives don’t think their company culture would survive a purely virtual environment and believe employees needed to be in the office three days a week. In contrast, over half of the employees surveyed wanted to work from home three or more days a week.

In terms of balancing employee wishes and business needs, a hybrid workplace is likely to be the norm. This means ways to engage employees to keep a strong culture will also need to change and evolve to meet the demands of new work environments.

For years, studies have shown that one of the best ways to create a competitive advantage in the talent war is by empowering employees to engage with social issues and connect with like-minded colleagues. That’s where a great corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy comes in.

A CSR strategy can improve workplace culture to attract and retain talent while supporting the community and providing employees a sense of greater purpose.

Here are some CSR event ideas for engaging your workforce and enhancing corporate culture through volunteerism, all while making an impact in the community:

In-Person Volunteer Projects

In-person volunteering and day of service events are usually what come to mind when thinking about employee volunteer activities. However, with the pandemic, some complexities arise around safety and the need for socially distanced, COVID-compliant ways to give back. Luckily, there are still many opportunities available that can take place outside or in an environment that allows for the proper precautions. Here are a couple of event ideas to engage employees:

  • Pack and distribute meals for local children and families experiencing homelessness.
  • Paint the walls of a local nonprofit that provides afterschool care and tutoring for students.

Virtual Volunteerism

Not all volunteer opportunities have to be in-person. Virtual volunteering allows employees to collectively give back while contributing individually to a cause from home while working remotely. While there are many ways employees can give back from the comfort of their home, here are a couple of ideas:

  • Assemble hygiene kits and write handwritten notes of encouragement for homebound seniors.
  • Record employees sharing information about their career path for local teens who are exploring post-high school options.

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

As part of a CSR strategy, you can provide opportunities for employees to volunteer that are not part of a company-wide initiative for a specific cause. For example, many companies offer “volunteer hours” during work hours to allow employees to give back on company time. Other companies help recruit employees for specific volunteer activities that take place outside of office hours. Either way, here are some examples of individual volunteer activities you can make available to your employees:

There is no doubt that company culture will continue to be a hot topic. The best thing you can do is embrace change as it will inevitably come and create ways to keep employees engaged in your company.

Whether you want to introduce CSR initiatives to your company or enhance your current CSR strategy, United Way of San Diego County can help. For years, we have supported corporate partners in giving back campaigns and day of service events. We now offer many more CSR opportunities and can guide you in creating memorable CSR events in-person or virtually.

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