Corporate Volunteering and CSR in Qatari Companies

Introduction to Corporate Volunteering

Corporate volunteering (CV) entails the scenario wherein employees undertake voluntary social activities. These activities are community-based and charitable in nature (Optimy, 2017). This form of volunteering becomes part of a company's CSR policy. Companies have chosen to invest their resources and time in the development of workplace environments where every person can contribute to things that really matter (Optimy, 2017). Over time, the concept of volunteering broadened, detailing volunteer programs as a means of strengthening the relationship between a company and its employees. There are many examples that illustrate the impact of the corporate volunteering phenomenon.

One such example is Deloitte, a consulting firm that operates in nearly every nation in the world. The company has an elaborate CSR tradition. For volunteering, Deloitte offers its employees approximately 48 hours per annum on payroll to engage in volunteer services with a given organization (Optimy, 2017). The company also provides incentives to encourage employees to participate in several fundraising initiatives. Autodesk is another American corporation that gives its employees five days per year to offer assistance to non-profit organizations and schools. Autodesk is also actively involved in the execution of campaigns and social initiatives (Optimy, 2017).

Corporate volunteering is an essential element in any progressive corporation because it helps employees, the company, and the community benefit from mutually beneficial initiatives. Donated products and monetary services will often have a fundamental impact when the purposes for which such resources are channeled are progressive. Programs in corporate volunteering often carry greater lasting value, as it ultimately comes down to employee engagement. CV helps attract younger employees and increases the visibility of the company within the community (FrontStream, 2013). CV also improves employee engagement levels (Graffer, 2011). Companies that promote volunteer programs more actively demonstrate better employee satisfaction, better morale, and consequently better profitability and productivity. This research investigates the level of influence that CV can have in Qatari companies.

1. What impact would corporate volunteering have on the corporate world in Qatar?
2. What benefits would companies, employees, and the community enjoy if Qatari corporations embrace corporate volunteering?
3. Are there any significant benefits that Qatar can accrue from the integration of corporate volunteering into corporate social responsibility?

Benefits and Value of Corporate Volunteering

To identify visible benefits of integrating corporate volunteering into the CSR of Qatari companies, and to investigate the benefits that employees, corporations, and communities accrue from CV.

Benabou and Tirole (2010) noted that corporate and individual social responsibility is an alternative response to the distributive and market failures that have become quite pronounced. They elaborate on the role of corporate volunteering in helping institutions build a reputation and become more visible in both local and international communities.

Do Paço and Cláudia Nave (2013) examine the motivations that lead employees to participate willingly in corporate volunteering activities promoted by companies. The researchers also evaluate the levels of happiness and satisfaction associated with volunteering activities.

In a study conducted by the Realized Worth institution, companies whose employees were more engaged in CV experienced profitability growth of approximately 16% and productivity levels 18% higher than those of other companies (FrontStream, 2013). The research also showed that customer loyalty for CV-engaged companies was 12% higher, while product quality grew by about 60%. Companies that do not embrace corporate volunteering suffer significant losses: their disengaged employees contribute to approximately $350 billion in annual losses, according to a 2002 Gallup poll (FrontStream, 2013).

Companies that value CV are also more inclined to hire younger employees. Millennials who have graduated over the past several years, along with subsequent generations, are committed to making a difference in the world. This commitment motivates young people to forgo as much as 14.4% of potential earnings in order to work for socially responsible companies (FrontStream, 2013). This represents a significant departure from the older employment model, where competitive wages and benefits were the primary considerations. For millennials, the career landscape is quite different — they seek employers whose values align with their own and who support causes they care about.

CV also increases corporate visibility. A skillfully promoted and well-established volunteer program will boost the visibility of the company within the community (Benabou & Tirole, 2010). This enhances the company's public reputation and helps sustain it in the face of challenges (FrontStream, 2013). While the media may be slow to cover ordinary business announcements or local company achievements, CV programs consistently generate positive coverage. Additional benefits of CV include encouraging teamwork, supporting employee development, improving communication, improving employee retention, and providing the company with ongoing content for its public narrative (Graffer, 2011).

Corporate Volunteering in Qatari Companies

Peterson (2003) conducted a survey investigating the perceived benefits of corporate volunteering. The researcher found that employees viewed volunteering as an effective means of enhancing and developing various job-related skills — a finding that was particularly true for women employees and those involved in formal volunteering programs (Peterson, 2003). Survey outcomes also showed that organizational commitment was stronger among volunteers from companies with CV programs compared to those from companies without such programs. Additionally, job satisfaction was linked to volunteerism among women employees more so than among male employees (Peterson, 2003). Basil et al. (2009) similarly affirm that volunteerism carries substantial benefits for employees, society, and companies, and that it helps companies meet their CSR expectations.

Sanchez-Hernandez and Gallardo-Vázquez (2013) found that the modern business environment in Spain has incorporated volunteerism as a fundamental component of CSR strategy, enabling companies to remain committed to their social responsibility objectives.

Employee-supported volunteering (ESV) provides employees with volunteer opportunities with assistance from the employer (Doing Good Leads, n.d.). This may take the form of team or individual volunteering, or arrangements involving community partners. ESV offers tangible benefits to the employer, the community, and the volunteers in the supported organizations. By helping solve local issues, employers benefit both individually and through the communities in which they operate.

INJAZ Qatar has partnered with local communities, educators, and corporate volunteers to inspire and prepare the younger generation to make an impact in the global economy. INJAZ Qatar is a member of JA Worldwide (INJAZ Qatar, 2018), the largest global organization dedicated to educating students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and workforce readiness through hands-on, experiential programs. JA was established in 1919 and now reaches more than 10 million students per year in over 120 countries (INJAZ Qatar, 2018). INJAZ Qatar has also partnered with INJAZ Al-Arab, which comprises fourteen MENA nations working toward a shared mission of inspiring and preparing young Arab people to succeed in the global economy. Many companies in Qatar have formed similar CV policies for the benefit of young people and their communities. Although most volunteering concepts are only beginning to be taken seriously as part of corporate CSR policies in Qatar, the impact achieved by the few companies already engaged in CV has inspired others to join the movement.

Conclusion

Corporate volunteering offers demonstrable benefits to companies, employees, and communities alike. The evidence reviewed in this paper — spanning profitability metrics, employee engagement, talent retention, and community impact — consistently supports the integration of CV into corporate strategy. Qatari corporations, encouraged by initiatives like INJAZ Qatar, stand to gain substantially by embedding CV within their CSR frameworks. Doing so would strengthen employee engagement, improve corporate visibility, and deepen the social impact of Qatar's business sector.