There are five generations in the workforce, and while the age range is wide, one core belief holding strong across all generations is that Community Involvement is a top priority for any business. According to Forbes’ Human Resources Council, “roughly 82% of U.S. consumers consider corporate social responsibility when deciding what services and products to buy and from where”. A similar survey of millennials indicated 86% of Gen Y workers greatly value their companies’ corporate social responsibility programs and would quit their jobs if those programs started to slip. Consider these six explanations outlined by the Forbes Human Resources Council recently for how community involvement benefits employers and employees alike.

1. The Right Thing to Do If there’s a will there is a way. You can start by contacting local non-profits and inquiring what their needs are. These efforts enhance your public relations, build community relationships and demonstrate the values of your organization. The Chamber has a great list of local non-profits that would love to hear from you!

2. Local Roles, Local Talent Especially pertinent to larger companies with multiple offices.  Posting jobs locally and having a strong local presence is crucial to attracting top talent locally. Location is a big driver in employment decisions as it affects work/life balance.

3. Community in The Front, Business in The Rear Too often, organizations focus on community involvement with one goal in mind – more profits. Consider alternatively taking a “community in the front, business in the rear” approach. Businesses that utilize this methodology testify that the benefits are absolutely worthwhile.

4. Improved Collaboration Community involvement provides employees with a way to interact with each other outside of the workplace, and a result they get to know one another better. Employees are able to create stronger bonds and collaborate more effectively.  Companies with close-knit corporate cultures, increases employee satisfaction.

5. A Better Community, Higher Employee Morale Employees that feel connected in their community and are encouraged to do so by their employers have a higher morale. It is human nature to experience a natural high from serving others, and studies show happy employees are more productive.

6. Team Building and Talent Attraction In addition to great team building, employers gain visibility by attracting new talent. Employers can encourage involvement by providing employees with a number of paid volunteer hours per month or quarter.

Getting involved in the community is an effective way for any organization (large to small) to increase employee morale, build relationships, and boost visibility, brand awareness and reputability. It could be sponsoring a local event, conducting knowledge-sharing workshops within the local business community, or by enabling employee volunteerism. Whatever the method one thing is certain, companies that encourage involvement in the community stand out and in turn reap the benefits such as a happier workforce or a more loyal customer base.