38 WO RLD-CHANGING IDEAS >>
Meanwhile , two years into her tenure as a digital content producer at HP , Gen Zer Bianca Tamura and her team spent a day away from their PCs and out in their community . Together , they packaged meals that would be delivered to people in need across New York City .
“ It was really rewarding and a great experience to give your time to help others and have a positive impact ,” Tamura says .
Retaining employees Experiences like these are so rewarding that Tamura says they ’ re part of what ’ s keeping her at HP at a time when many employees around her age are leaving their jobs in droves .
“ My choice to stay here is [ partly ] a moral choice ,” says Tamura . “ It ’ s not only the volunteering that ’ s important , but it ’ s also HP ’ s goals for sustainability , justice , and diversity .”
According to LinkedIn data ,
80 % of Gen Z employees and 50 % of millennials have changed jobs in the past couple of years , as the pandemic has sparked a widespread reevaluation of what people want from their jobs . Overall , Gartner research predicts voluntary employee turnover could increase by 20 % from pre-pandemic levels as employees look for a better work / life balance , flexibility in remote and hybrid arrangements , and , increasingly , jobs that align with their values . A 2022 Deloitte study found that employees ’ level of satisfaction with their employer ’ s commitment to societal impact has a direct impact on employee loyalty . and social outreach , says Gen Z employees are pushing employers to be more intentional with their volunteer programs , which they see as an important part of the employee experience and the company ’ s role in the world . In another Deloitte study , 89 % of employees said they believe companies that sponsor volunteer activities offer a better overall working environment than those that don ’ t .
“ Millennials started this trend , but Gen Zers have more recently been the leaders of helping companies think more expansively ,” she says .
“ I think that more and more , Gen Zers
“ Millennials started this trend , but Gen Zers have more recently been the leaders of helping companies think more expansively .”
— CHRISTINE SCHOPPE , CHIEF STRATEGY AND GROWTH
OFFICER , POINTS OF LIGHT
This has sparked new interest among employers in formulating company-sponsored volunteering programs , giving employees opportunities to do social good on the job . While programs like these aren ’ t new , they ’ ve taken on added importance as recruiting and retention tools ,
with 47 % of US companies offering volunteer programs in 2022 , up from 40 % in 2014 . Employer-sponsored volunteer opportunities not only give employees a personal sense of purpose at work , they also help shape their perception of current and prospective employers .
NBCUniversal has an annual “ season of giving ” for two weeks in April , a volunteer program during the holiday season , and other outreach days throughout the year . The company also awards $ 5,000 grants to employee-selected nonprofits through its Community Impact Fund . Beyond volunteering , NBCUniversal encourages employees to