Forget the Ping Pong tables and the snack bars. Yes, your staff enjoys benefits and perks associated with their jobs, but what they really want is a purpose and an organization that’s investing in social good. According to the 2014 Millennial Impact Report by Achieve Consulting, more than half of surveyed millennials said their company’s charitable work influenced their decision to accept a job offer. In fact, the individuals polled for that report ranked a company’s volunteerism program third in importance behind the primary purpose and its workplace culture. Think about that for a moment. While that survey took a look at a specific age group, it’s a safe bet that such efforts transcend a single generation. Whether you’re a small business owner or a leader in a large corporation, service opportunities need to be on your radar.

Give Them Time

You give your staff vacation time. You also give them personal time and/or sick days. What about volunteer time off (VTO)? According to the 2018 Employee Benefits Report by the Society of HR Management, 1 in 4 employers in the US offer such a benefit. On average, companies offering this paid-time off grant between 8 and 40 hours per year, although some organizations offer more.

Salesforce, for example, offers their employees up to 7 days a year (56 hours) for volunteering. According to the company’s benefits page, “The top 100 eligible volunteers will be rewarded with…