How Employee Volunteering Supports HR Goals

HR teams are being asked to improve engagement, retention and development while doing more with limited time and budget. A strong employee volunteering strategy can help. It gives people a practical way to connect with purpose, build skills and contribute to the communities where they live and work.

At Points of Light, we believe volunteering changes everything — including how employees experience their workplace.

Why HR Leaders Should Care

• It helps attract purpose-driven candidates. Clear social impact commitments can make your company more compelling to job seekers who want their work to align with their values.
• It strengthens engagement and belonging. Volunteering gives employees a shared way to connect with each other, their communities and your company’s purpose.
• It supports leadership development. Skills-based and team volunteering can help employees build communication, problem-solving and leadership skills in real-world settings.
• It can support retention. Employees are more likely to stay when they feel connected to the work, the culture and the impact their company is making.
• It creates value across teams. HR, CSR and business leaders can use volunteering to support culture, learning, community engagement and employer brand goals.

How Employee Volunteering Supports Key HR Goals

Recruitment and Attraction

Purpose matters to today’s workforce. In the Bentley-Gallup Force for Good Study, 71% of respondents ages 18 to 29 said they would leave their current employer for one that was more socially responsible. Deloitte has also found that many Gen Z and millennial workers have turned down jobs or assignments that did not align with their personal ethics. Explore Deloitte’s findings.

Engagement and Belonging

Volunteering can give employees a stronger sense of connection and shared purpose. In a Deloitte survey, 70% of employees said volunteering boosts enthusiasm more than company happy hours. See the survey.

Talent Development

Volunteering can also serve as hands-on learning. According to Taproot, 73% of managers of pro bono participants said employees developed leadership skills through the experience. That makes volunteering a useful complement to formal learning and development programs.

Retention

Employees are more likely to stay engaged when they believe their company acts responsibly and gives them meaningful ways to contribute. Gallup has reported higher engagement among employees who see their organization as socially responsible. Explore Gallup’s research.

How to Frame This With HR Leadership

• “This supports talent goals.” Employee volunteering can help strengthen recruiting, engagement and retention.
• “This creates practical development opportunities.” Skills-based volunteering gives employees a chance to practice leadership, collaboration and problem-solving.
• “This supports culture and belonging.” Shared service experiences can help employees build connection across teams and locations.
• “This is a cross-functional investment.” A strong volunteering strategy can support HR, CSR and employer brand priorities at the same time.
• “We can learn from leading companies.” Programs recognized through The Civic 50 show how social impact and people strategy can work together.

A Simple 90-Day Plan for CSR and HR Collaboration

Days 1–30: Pilot

Choose one HR priority, such as low engagement in a department or a leadership development goal, and launch a targeted volunteer pilot.

Days 31–60: Measure

Track participation, collect employee feedback and note early signs of skill development, morale or team connection.

Days 61–90: Expand

Share results with leadership and build a plan to grow the program based on what worked.

FAQs

Does employee volunteering improve engagement?

Yes. Research continues to show that employees report stronger engagement and job satisfaction when their companies offer meaningful community engagement opportunities.

How can CSR and HR partner on retention through volunteering?

By creating accessible opportunities to serve, HR and CSR teams can strengthen belonging, purpose and connection across the employee experience.

What role does VTO play in participation?

Volunteer Time Off signals that a company values service. A clear VTO policy can remove barriers to participation and help more employees take part.

Need a partner to strengthen your employee volunteering or corporate social impact strategy? Points of Light helps companies design, strengthen and scale programs that support employees, communities and business goals.

Explore Corporate Social Impact Support