Engaging your employees

. employees from various departments to join CSR initiatives because these allow them to grow both professionally and individually. After all, companies are striving to develop human capital, not workhorses.

Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, will eventually reshape the workforce by making up to 50% of it by 2020, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited in a 2011 report.

As more and more young adults enter the workforce and the number of skilled, trained and educated individuals in the labour force increases, CSR is a great platform for training employees.

A new generation

Although millennials and their behaviour towards work and commitment have been a heated topic among many quarters, it is . It is crucial for companies to find a way to incorporate employee involvement in CSR projects. There are 10 steps to structure a CSR framework that integrates employees.

Establishing a purpose – Before an employer or the company begins a CSR journey, it is great to establish a purpose for the initiative.

Develop a vision, mission, values, goals and strategy for the CSR. Involve employees or even customers and community leaders in the development. Codes of conduct – Include the CSR values, purpose and initiative in the employee code of conduct. t

Employee management and recruitment – CSR is a great way to empower employees and inspire future employees. Evaluate the skill sets that the company would like to inculcate in the workforce by identifying competencies and gaps.

Build the relationship between employer brand and the employee value proposition. In addition, attract new talents through recruitment programmes.

Training and development – It is important to include CSR values and focus during the orientation and probationary review process.

For existing employees, provide general and job-specific CSR training that will benefit them in paving a long-lasting career in the company. 13- to 25-year-olds

Key performance indicators and rewards – Incorporate your company’s CSR initiative in your employees’ key performance indicator and reward system.

Include additional features of CSR in your employees’ annual performance review and exit interviews. that 62% of . draws potential talents to the company.

Today, many potential employees constantly look to companies that focus beyond profit-gaining businesses and give back to the community or create a system of sustainable practices.

Especially in the age of connectivity, companies can build a good reputation and leverage on it by maximising exposure of their CSR initiatives through social media platforms.

A research paper published in the Journal of Marketing in 2014 revealed that there is a significant benefit and improved job performance tied to the practice of CSR, especially among employees who are in direct contact with consumers such as customer service representatives, account servicers and salespeople.

Customers tend to be drawn to –Realign and modify the company’s work culture to match the CSR vision, mission and values.

Getting everyone involved – Avoid segmenting a specific group of employees for the CSR initiative. Help everyone foster better professional and personal relationships by getting employees from different departments to work together on a CSR initiative or project.

Development of policy and programme – Research a cause that will match the enterprise and corporate identity, such as a wellness initiative, employee volunteerism, reducing the company’s carbon footprint or empowering communities.

Emphasising communication – Communicate your plans, aims and progress of the CSR initiative with employees and help raise awareness about the CSR cause among them.

In-house CSR newsletters, whether printed or through e-mails, are a great way to keep everyone up-to-date on the company’s CSR initiative.

Reporting, analysis and celebrating – To keep track of the progress of your CSR initiative through employees, incorporate CSR measures into employee engagement surveys. Use this information to further improve future CSR initiatives and employee engagement.

Most importantly, celebrate the success, little or big, with employees after a successful CSR initiative.

It is important for employees to have the right attitude in participating and contributing to their company’s CSR initiative. CSR initiatives within a company require employees who are not only committed but also proactive and creative.In addition, continuous development of CSR initiatives can only happen when employees provide constructive feedback for the development and improvement of future projects.

At the end of the day, the pursuit of a successful and impactful CSR programme begins with the people working behind it and their passion to make a difference for the people and the world around them.

Therefore, it is vital to get employees from every level to be involved in CSR initiatives and allow CSR to be one of the cornerstones of employee development.This will create a working environment that values employee progress as it strives to create well-rounded and professional individuals. .