4 Corporate volunteering creates a value that people look for in subsequent employment. “Enriching an organization’s culture is un- doubtedly one of the most valuable benefits of employees’ participation in philanthrop- ic and volunteer initiatives.” This is how Ms. Dzhartazanova sums up the advantages of corporate volunteering. TimeHeroes’ corporate survey findings back up her conclusion: the longer employees spend at a company with a strong service record, the stronger their commitment to vol- unteering becomes. Moreover, good corporate citizens create a culture of volunteerism that employees may not have had before joining the company, and an employer’s service cre- dentials are likely to be an essential require- ment in individuals’ next job hunt. “Increasingly, companies understand that part of the investment in their employees also in- cludes a willingness to show and prove their commitment to social processes outside the office. This is important for several reasons. On the one hand, it is a demonstration of the company’s values and shows that its interest is not solely focused on the business, in isola- tion of the environment in which the business operates. On the other hand, it brings to the fore the human aspect, embodied by the peo- ple who work in the company and who, at the end of the day, are part of a society that still has many unresolved problems,” Natalia says.
5 Volunteering improves employees’ skills and has a positive impact on their development. Helping to resolve challenges experienced by NGOs, museums, groups at risk, and others lets a company’s employees shine on a larger stage. Not only does the opportunity improve their engagement and build company pride, but also the challenges hone their abilities, benefiting a company’s bottom line at the end of the day. TimeHeroes enlisted the help of companies such as VMware, betahaus, and Amexy, as well as students from the University of National and World Economy, to develop a publicity strategy for the National Polytechnic Museum in Sofia. “We applied for the workshop with the great- est pleasure as university students are the group that we don’t normally reach. It turned out that they had never been to the museum, but their suggestions were really good. Most impressive was their idea for a PolyTendar — a special calendar of events for a younger audi- ence. We took them very seriously and have started implementing some of the ideas,” said Madlen Yaneva, the museum’s public relations coordinator.
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