Engaging employees in their jobs worth it financially for companies

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You have heard the alarming stats regarding employee disengagement and its cost to employers.

It is true. But, just how disengaged are the employees?

A 2013 Gallup poll disclosed that 70 percent of workers say they feel fully disengaged from their workplace and cost companies more than $2,000 per employee per year. So, do the math. Grab your calculator and multiply 70 percent of your employees by $2,000. Wow. Now have I gotten your attention?

In Jackson County, strong employers and engaged employees make our community a better place to live. Collectively, we must turn the disengaged workforce into one that chooses to give back to our community, on or off company time. How does this happen?

United Way is creating lasting change by providing employee-based volunteer opportunities.

This year, our 19th annual Day of Caring event, was a record-breaking success — again. Through the leadership of chairwoman Karen Brooks, we had nearly 600 volunteers from 42 organizations and their total volunteer time was more than 4,000 hours. Volunteers served at 78 great improvement projects sites in Brownstown, Crothersville, Freetown, Medora, Norman and Seymour.

Here are a few great examples of what the day included:

Through our partnership with the American Red Cross, volunteers spread out across neighborhoods in Seymour and educated 50 families with fire safety facts. Did you know that smoke detectors should be changed every 10 years? I didn’t. These volunteers also installed 50 fire detectors for families that had no working smoke detectors in their home.

For Cummins, corporate responsibility is one of the core values of the company. They are focused on affirmatively reaching out to help Jackson County engage its workforce in addressing community needs. Cummins Seymour Engine Plant provided the opportunity for all team members to serve during Day of Caring.

At Girls Inc., one Cummins IT employee, Dustin Reynolds, updated the computer lab with antivirus software and decided which computers had limited life. He also shared his contact information to be used as a resource in the future.

Brenda Tracy, Girls Inc. executive director shared this: “We’ve asked JCUW for years for IT support because we don’t have the funds to employ an IT person. His help was very much appreciated.”

Volunteers like Dustin are needed all year long.

Building company morale also is important to Schneck Medical Center. Their leadership team works together every year rolling up their sleeves planting trees, pulling weeds or building fences.

Rita Baker, Schneck Medical Center’ director of diagnostic imaging and Day of Caring volunteer chairwoman, shared this: “I participate in Day of Caring because I like seeing how much work is done in one day by a small group of dedicated people working together. And we get to work outside — which is an added perk. I like volunteering because it lets me be part of the bigger goal — helping to build a stronger community and making a positive difference for others.”

While most of the volunteers work outside for the day, not all come from companies.

This year, students from Crothersville High School’s National Honor Society, Seymour-Redding Elementary School’s student council and Seymour Middle School’s student council came out to serve. The students washed windows, planted flowers and painted at a local library; cleared a walking trail at the forestry; installed an early learning trail; and visited with seniors. JCUW strives to increase student volunteer engagement moving forward.

Unfortunately, not all projects were finished on the actual Day of Caring. This year, a group of six friends led by Justin Amos completed a handicapped-accessible porch and ramp. This project required skilled labor and construction expertise. We and the family are grateful for their work completing this project; now a grandmother can enjoy the summer outdoors with her family.

So, how do you change your disengaged workforce? Provide opportunities and encourage them to volunteer.

According to a survey by Deloitte, 93 percent of employees believe that volunteering offers the opportunity to enhance leadership skills and 89 percent feel it helps enhance problem solving skills.

If you provide opportunities and encourage your employees to volunteer, you’ll gain engaged employees who will develop new skills and competencies that they can use on the job.

Everyone should be sure to thank our sponsors, volunteers, project sites, and committee who graciously gave to ensure the 19th Day of Caring was a huge success.

Day of Caring is not funded by the United Way campaign and could not happen without their commitment to volunteerism in order to make lasting changes in our community.

Consider how you can be involved to make our 20th annual event the biggest and best yet. Contact Bonita Dobbs, JCUW program manager at [email protected] or 812-522-5450.

Tonja Couch is executive director of Jackson County United Way.

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