Volunteers live longer. Studies show that people who are socially involved are happier, more active - and healthier. Those who get involved in the workplace strengthen team spirit and employee loyalty. And employers who support and promote the social commitment of their employees are not only good for society, but also for their own image.

What exactly is corporate volunteering?
Corporate volunteering is the modern name for company volunteering. Both refer to voluntary, unpaid work by employees that is organised and supported by companies such as REWE Group. The commitment of employees to social, ecological or cultural projects can take place both during working hours and in their free time.

The most prominent example from this year is undoubtedly the participation of around 100 employees in the Special Olympics in Berlin organised by REWE Group, but the construction of shelters for the homeless organised and carried out jointly by a department or collecting rubbish on the Rhine with colleagues are also good examples. The spectrum of corporate volunteering ranges from individual days of action (such as Clean Up Days), to long-term cooperation with charitable organisations (for example the food bank movement or Kindernothilfe in Haiti), to supporting employees who are already privately involved, for example during the Ahr flood disaster. However, corporate volunteering is not only a contribution to meeting social or ecological challenges or giving something back to society. It can also improve the company's image - and increase employee satisfaction. How so?

Parcels for the guests at the REWE Group's charity Christmas dinner.

Why can corporate volunteering increase employee loyalty?
Keyword "togetherness": Corporate volunteering promotes cohesion and team spirit among employees, as they work together on a project that goes beyond their usual work tasks. This can strengthen the sense of community among colleagues or even an entire department and thus increase loyalty to the company.
Keyword "meaning": By giving employees the opportunity to get involved in social, environmental or cultural projects, their work can take on an additional meaningful dimension. This can increase employee satisfaction as they see that their work has a positive impact on society.
Keyword "corporate culture": Companies that promote corporate volunteering show that they not only want to make a profit, but also make a positive contribution to society. This can promote employee loyalty.
Keyword "further development": Through corporate volunteering, employees can learn new skills or develop existing ones that they can also use in their regular work. This can support personal and professional development and increase loyalty to the company.

Christmas party for the children of Collège Verena, Haiti. How can corporate volunteering contribute to a positive corporate image?
Keyword "social contribution": This is how companies show their commitment to society and the well-being of their employees. They demonstrate that they are taking on social or environmental responsibility beyond simply maximising profits, which can be perceived positively by customers and the general public, for example.
Keyword "employee motivation": those who feel a stronger connection to their company through corporate volunteering and value its social commitment also convey this to the outside world.
Keyword "employer attractiveness": Companies that offer corporate volunteering programmes can be more attractive to potential employees. This is particularly true for younger generations, who are often looking for socially responsible employers.

Last question: How does it benefit me personally if I am socially involved?
Keyword "personal satisfaction": Social commitment can give me a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction when I make a contribution to improving the lives of others or the environment.
Keyword "personal empowerment": Social engagement can give me the feeling of being part of a community and contributing to its development and improvement. In other words, I am not just a bystander in life, but act, influence and shape it.
Keyword "personal development": Volunteering is an opportunity to use my skills and learn new ones at the same time, which in turn can be useful to me in other areas of life and work.
Keyword "personal network": Social engagement often means that I get to meet new people, resulting in new relationships or even friendships, which can have a positive impact on both my personal life, but potentially also my working life.
Keyword "personal well-being": Science has found that social engagement can have a positive impact on my mental and physical health. In many cases, this goes so far as to not only increase life satisfaction - but even life expectancy.