Statistics show that over 12 percent of US businesses encourage employees to “give back” to the community during the holidays. Here are five examples:
- Every third Monday in December, the staff at Spokane’s RoughRunner spends half a day delivering artisan pretzels to certified public accountants across the city. Says CEO Art Richardson. “It’s our goal that no CPA is forgotten during the holidays.”
- While they devote 364 days a year to formulating relatability platforms, the 15 employees at Cleveland’s MatsonWolmer sets aside one day a year to work at Furries, a shelter for abandoned hamsters. “They clean cages, prepare feed, and just give the animals some love,” says HR VIP Christine Finn – noting that last year, three employees stuck around beyond the required 90 minutes.
- Every Friday in December, employees of Denver cap makers DetailDetail are permitted to wear caps into the office to raise awareness for Porkommon Disease. They must purchase the cap from the company – prices start at $600 – but DetailDetail donates $1.45 for every cap sold to Porkommon research.
- The demands of regulating variables in the bug spray industry prevent the 410 employees of Moline, Illinois’ Stratt Inc. from physically leaving the premises, but all of them are required to pause from their duties for five minutes a week in November to send “positive thoughts” to the needy “Research shows that this works,” says Community Experience Procurer Shemp Palova.
- The staff at Atlanta’s Pattman Financial has put together four fundraisers this season to help the city’s symphony orchestra purchase a G above Middle C key for its $2.4 million Bunsenburner grand piano. To date the company has raised 85 percent of the $285,000 goal.
