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Employee Engagement,  Generations at Work,  Millennials in the Workplace

For many millennials, a fulfilling career means more than climbing to CEO. Beyond money and job titles, people in the country’s value a sense of meaning in their work more than their older colleagues.

Our ���[�ʘ��� team uncovered this trend while selecting the Best Workplaces for Giving Back. Our analysis of 350,000+ employee surveys revealed a strong link between organizational giving and employee experience.

People who felt their employers made a positive impact on the world were:

• 4 times more likely to say their teams give extra to get the job done

• 11 times more likely to say they plan to stay with their organizations for the long haul

• 14 times more likely to say they look forward to coming to work.

“At the heart of the company is its understanding that a great work environment encourages, not just the work we do, but the full human experience,” said a millennial at

Employees at Cornerstone OnDemand have ample opportunities to give back. Building skateboards with underprivileged youth is a part of their new-hire orientation. Staff raise money for charities participating in marathons and walks throughout the year.

"It's a constant reminder that we as an organization are more than simply the sum of our parts," said a Cornerstone OnDemand employee.

Giving-centered programs like these have a huge impact on employee experience across generations. But we found this effect to be particularly strong among younger employees.

Among millennials, survey responses with community involvement had a stronger link with loyalty and whether people see their work as more than “just a job.”

Millennials have higher “giving back” expectations than their Gen X and baby boomer colleagues. Overall, younger employees scored their organizations less favorably on community contributions and their sense of making an impact.

For hiring managers, this is a big opportunity. Enhancing involvement in worthy causes – especially with programs that directly engage employees – offers a chance to better recruit and retain millennials.

How to give back the right way

Our Best Workplaces make giving back a priority in many innovative ways.

• puts giving front-and-center from day one. All new hires receive a $10 gift certificate with instructions to “pay it forward” with a good deed. Their orientation includes sharing how they brightened someone’s day. This sets an expectation that giving back will be integral to their work.
  
  
• ’s Good Gigs program marries employees’ passions with the company’s philanthropy. Cross-functional teams spend three months honing their leadership skills in projects such as teaching at orphanages in Vietnam
  
  
• ’s Take Action Challenge gives co-workers the chance to pitch community projects for $10,000 grants. Participants work with nonprofits to bring these ideas to life. That way, employees get a real stake in their organization’s giving. Employees started a school garden, a public wellness fair and mentored underprivileged youth.

Initiatives like these can bring an immediate boost to staff camaraderie. But they also build a deeper sense of connection with the organization.

“We could easily lose a sense of fun at work and not care about giving back to the community,” says another millennial at Veterans United Home Loans.

“I am so proud to say I work at Veterans United, where more than 90 percent of employees donate one percent of their salaries to our foundation. That's something that makes VU a great place to work.”

Kim Peters