Supporting charities and local community organisations does more than enhance the reputation of the employer. Research has shown that voluntary work helps the helpers as well as the people they support – this is what we call ‘the power of positivity’ here at Aviva.
London School of Economics researchers found that regular volunteers were 12% more likely to be ‘very happy’ than those who never did voluntary work6.
Volunteering helps to instil confidence, improves teamwork and engenders the sense of personal well-being which helps employees to perform at their best.
The one who’s always the first to put their hand up when something needs organising, or when something’s going on to support a good cause? Recruiting a team of ‘hero’ volunteers is a cost-effective way to develop a social responsibility strategy, while allowing highly motivated employees to enjoy playing to their strengths on behalf of the broader team. This approach also ensures that voluntary work is supported at all levels of the business – not just a directive handed down from above.
