Seventy per cent of Generation Next graduates and employees strongly favour joining companies committed to the community, said a report.

More than half (61 per cent) said they are likely to factor a company’s commitment to the community into their decision if choosing between two jobs with the same location, responsibilities and pay and benefits, according to the eighth annual Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey.

The new survey revealed that millennials who frequently participate in workplace volunteer activities are far more likely to be proud, loyal and satisfied employees compared to those who rarely or never volunteer.

According to the survey, compared to those who rarely or never volunteer, millennials who frequently participate in their company’s employee volunteer activities are:

• Twice as likely to rate their corporate culture as very positive (56 per cent vs. 28 per cent);

• More likely to be very proud to work for their company (55 per cent versus 36 per cent);

• More likely to feel very loyal toward their company (52 per cent vs. 33 per cent);

• Nearly twice as likely to be very satisfied with the progression of their career (37 per cent vs. 21 per cent);

• More likely to be very satisfied with their employer (51 per cent vs. 32 per cent); and,

• More likely to recommend their company to a friend (57 per cent vs. 46 per cent)

“Our own experience has demonstrated the positive outcomes of a strategic corporate volunteer program,” said Omar Fahoum, chairman and chief executive at Deloitte in the Middle East. “It’s very exciting to have research that more broadly quantifies the connection between workplace volunteerism and several drivers of positive organizational culture among millennials.”

In the Middle East, Deloitte volunteers who were part of the sample targeted for the study are active in education and skills building corporate responsibility initiatives.

The study also showed that more than one-third (37 per cent) of those who frequently volunteer are more likely to be very satisfied with the progression of their career. These and other findings from the Deloitte 2011 Volunteer IMPACT Survey suggest a link between volunteerism and the quality of employee engagement as well as favorable employee perceptions of organizational culture.

At a time when one-third of millennial employees are considering other career options, these findings may offer new insights about a powerful way to engage workers among this age group.

“The data shows that, on many levels, employees who regularly volunteer are much more connected than those who do not volunteer,” said Rana Ghandour Salhab, partner in charge of Talent at Deloitte in the Middle East.

“This is a strong argument for making volunteerism a business priority, because employee engagement and organizational culture are inextricably linked to organizational performance. What’s more, engagement and a sense of ownership are essential to leadership, and we recognize the need to cultivate leadership qualities in all our people, and celebrate responsible leadership.”

Millennials, who are often characterized by their passion to change the world, are also motivated to volunteer by more than altruism; half (51 per cent) of all millennials surveyed want to benefit professionally from their volunteerism.

Skilled volunteers, who use their business acumen to help nonprofit organizations, are more likely to seek a professional return on investment for their volunteer efforts than “hands-on” volunteers:

• Skilled volunteers are more likely than traditional volunteers to say it is important that their volunteer efforts benefit them professionally (72 per cent versus 56 per cent).

• Skilled volunteers are also more likely than traditional volunteers to be motivated by career advancement (47 per cent vs. 34 per cent). – TradeArabia News Service