Strategy + Business has a great short article on how managers can become more aware, keen to how they enlist the support of employees, and generally more effective through volunteer experience.

Yet, the sentiments of most employees about volunteering are contrarian to this data because they feel they have no time, or more to the point, that their organizations do not value the time they spend in volunteer mode. Some companies even have restrictive policies about their employees utilizing corporate equipment while doing non profit work, which, I can understand, but what kind of message are you sending.

If employees are made to feel like they can bring their "constructive passions," such as working with non-profits in their quasi spare time, to work with them (so to speak...) I firmly believe that it enhances quality of life and reduces worker and "identity" anxiety as they are more comfortable knowing that the difference they make in the community also makes a difference with the company. This improves worker loyalty and reduces stress. (in some way, shape, or form...)

I've always encouraged my employees to get involved outside of work. Here we have a few of those things going on that we're really proud of:
- We do a lot of work for the Red Cross. It's a great cause, and they help a lot of people.
- One of our employees teaches at a local tech college in the evenings. He brings students in for tours and it's a great source of potential employees/interns for us.
- One of us volunteers heavily at a local private college on various advisory boards trying to help students make good decisions before they enter the work world.

We don't sponsor a lot of events of get involved like that, we try to do it on a more personal nature. I figure that it's because it's better to get involved at the employee level. If they make good decisions in their volunteer organizations in the "leadership by permission" realm, they're bound to make more informed and insightful decisions here too.

One of the biggest challenges in creating a stronger business is to make employees feel there's a larger purpose to their work lives than making money. That's one reason more companies are encouraging employees to work for nonprofit organizations in their communities. But volunteer work isn't just an outlet for employees in search of meaning; it's a way for experienced executives to hone their leadership skills, and for aspiring leaders to learn in a challenging management environment.