Deloitte Canada co-ordinates national volunteer day for employees
Aims to boost skills through volunteer opportunities
Tuesday April 1, 2008 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
Each year Deloitte Canada has a day devoted to volunteer efforts. Arrangements are made for the 7,000 employees of the professional services firm to give back to their communities in a variety of ways.

Turnout has consistently been high, according to Leila Fenc, director of community investment for the Deloitte Foundation.

“We get great participation,” she says, noting that typically about 80 per cent of employees give their time and energy on that day, called Impact Day.

Young people in particular are eager to give back and look for ways to do so, she says.

This year the firm is emphasizing volunteer opportunities that boost the skills of employees. The Deloitte Foundation has partnerships with charitable organizations, which can benefit from the various skills of Deloitte employees.

While specifics are still being worked out, Impact Day 2008 will likely include opportunities for employees to mentor others and provide financial advice. They may also contribute to Deloitte’s diversity initiative, which includes helping new Canadians integrate into the community.

Fenc says that Deloitte is seeing an upward push within the firm to be doing more in terms of volunteering in the community.

Recently a group of young Deloitte consultants approached management about arranging to volunteer their services in other ways, apart from the activities of Impact Day.

They put out a call for other employees to join them and within a day 60 people signed up to offer their services pro-bono.

Fenc notes most of these were young people as well.

“It’s tremendous,” says Fenc. “These people are amazing. I have so much respect for them.”

A U.S. study released last year shows that young people would prefer to work for companies that give them opportunities to contribute their talents to non-profit organizations.

Many say they want to want to have a meaningful impact on their communities and feel they can do so by volunteering with non-profits. They also see that they can boost their skills through volunteerism.

"Volunteering with non-profits is important for the community, but it also greatly benefits the volunteer," said Evan Hochberg, National Director of Community Involvement, Deloitte Services LP in a press release. "Skills-based volunteering, in particular, can give younger employees a chance to develop their management, teamwork, communication and leadership skills, as well as their technical skills."

Deloitte Canada was selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2008. Its community support initiatives such as Impact Day and diversity projects were included in the reasons for its selection.

Call to action: Does your organization facilitate volunteer opportunities for employees? Contact the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 or michelle(at)axiomnews.ca to share your story.