Top companies in the Philippines that volunteer for a cause

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has evolved significantly in the Philippines, moving beyond mere philanthropy to become a strategic imperative for businesses aiming to create sustainable value.

At the heart of this evolution lies the growing recognition of the power of employee volunteerism. When employees dedicate their time and skills to causes they believe in, it not only creates a tangible positive impact on society but also strengthens the fabric of the companies they work for.

Leading corporations in the Philippines are increasingly integrating volunteering into their corporate culture, understanding that it fosters a sense of purpose among their workforce, enhances their brand reputation, and contributes to nation-building.

Why companies support employee volunteering

For businesses, encouraging employee volunteering can significantly enhance their brand reputation, fostering goodwill among customers and stakeholders who increasingly value socially responsible practices.

It serves as a powerful tool for boosting employee engagement, morale, and job satisfaction, as individuals find a greater sense of purpose and connection to their work when they can contribute to meaningful causes.

Research by CSR software provider Benevity found that employees who join in purpose-driven volunteer programs are 52% less likely to leave their organisation, proving the impact of corporate volunteerism in talent retention.

Volunteer activities also promote teamwork, develop leadership skills, and improve communication among employees, further contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

Employee volunteering programmes often align closely with a company’s core values and CSR goals, providing a concrete way to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental well-being.

Many companies facilitate these efforts through company-backed initiatives such as organising volunteer events, offering paid volunteer leave, and establishing partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Several prominent companies in the Philippines have already established robust employee volunteer programmes, making significant contributions to various social causes.

PLDT-Smart

PLDT-Smart actively encourages employee volunteerism, rooted in the Filipino value of "malasakit" (compassion). Through their umbrella corporate citizenship programme, PLDT-Smart Communities, they support initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippine Development Plan.

Recent activities include supporting Hands On Manila's “Servathon 2024,” where employee volunteers created educational toys for underprivileged children. This participation is part of their #MakeItMeaningful campaign, aiming to create a purpose-driven work environment.

The overall programme emphasises leveraging technology to empower communities and bridge the digital divide.

Ayala Corporation

Ayala Corporation demonstrates a strong, group-wide commitment to employee volunteerism through the #BrigadangAyala (Ayala Brigade) Corporate Citizenship and Volunteerism programme.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ayala Foundation, harnesses the power of Ayala's extensive employee base to contribute to nation-building. Their active volunteer programmes focus on key areas such as education, health, financial literacy, and the environment.

A recent event saw over 300 employees packing survival kits for vulnerable communities, highlighting their disaster response efforts.

The Ayala Group also actively supports the Department of Education's Brigada Eskwela initiative annually, mobilising thousands of volunteers to serve numerous schools.

Unilever Philippines

Unilever Philippines integrates its sustainability goals with employee volunteerism through the Unilever GIVES (Get Involved, Volunteer and Enable Sustainability) programme.

The programme engages employees in initiatives aligned with their Sustainable Living Plan, with a focus on environmental conservation and public health.

Recent activities include tree planting events to commemorate Earth Day, contributing to the company's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

Unilever Philippines also maintains a long-term partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, supporting calamity response by providing sanitation products and training volunteers.

Their Domex brand’s World Toilet Day initiative further promotes hygiene and sanitation in schools, likely involving employee volunteers in educational activities.

Jollibee Food Corporation

Jollibee Food Corporation, through its social development arm, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), engages its employees in various community initiatives.

The JGF focuses on food security through programmes such as the FoodAID Program, which delivers meals during disasters and to undernourished schoolchildren.

Employee engagement is evident in their strong support for education projects, such as the YouthWorks PH programme in partnership with PBEd and USAID, which provides training to out-of-school youth.

Furthermore, Jollibee Group employees actively participate in environmental conservation efforts, particularly their mangrove reforestation project, planting thousands of mangrove propagules across coastal provinces since 2023.

Globe Telecom

Globe Telecom's #GlobeOfGood initiative fosters a strong culture of employee volunteerism, actively involving them in disaster relief, digital literacy programmes, and sustainability projects.

Their Hapag Movement provides food support to vulnerable families, with employee volunteers participating in food repacking and distribution during events like World Food Day.

During the pandemic, Globe pivoted to digital volunteerism, enabling employees and customers to contribute through fundraising and in-kind donations for typhoon victims.

Globe also has a Volunteer Time-Off (VTO) programme, allowing employees to volunteer at least once a year for their chosen advocacy.

Their Digital Thumbprint Program promotes cyber wellness, with employee volunteers potentially acting as trainers.

In 2022, Globe's employee engagement in volunteerism and community engagement initiatives benefited an estimated 16,086 individuals with the help of 2,581 employee volunteers.

Maybank Philippines

Maybank Philippines actively promotes employee volunteerism through its Cahaya Kasih (light of love) – Maybank Volunteerism Programme, a regional initiative encouraging employees to be agents of change in their communities.

The programme aligns with the pillars of the Maybank Foundation, focusing on areas like education and community empowerment.

Maybank offers its employees the option of one-month paid leave annually to pursue long-term sustainability and volunteerism initiatives, demonstrating a significant commitment.

Their flagship financial literacy programmes, R.I.S.E. (Reach Independence and Sustainable Entrepreneurship) and Cashville Kidz, likely involve employee volunteers as facilitators or mentors, aiming to empower disadvantaged communities through financial training and entrepreneurship.

In 2022, Maybank employees exceeded their annual target with 1,086,560 hours clocked on sustainability initiatives.

Meralco

Meralco, through its One Meralco Foundation, encourages employee volunteerism in projects focused on providing essential services and supporting education.

Driven by their corporate values of "malasakit" (compassion) and "bayanihan" (heroism), employees participate in initiatives such as providing electricity access to low-income households within their franchise area and energising remote public schools with solar power.

Employee volunteers also support community relations through activities like computer donations to public service institutions.

A recent example of their employee-led projects includes volunteers supporting a basketball clinic for children with autism, showcasing their commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.

Meralco also has a "CATropa" initiative where employee volunteers care for community cats at their headquarters, promoting animal welfare and public safety.

San Miguel Corporation

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) fosters employee volunteerism across a wide range of CSR initiatives, aligning their efforts with national development goals.

These programmes span disaster relief, food aid, and education, exemplified by their company-wide blood and convalescent plasma donation drive.

Their Better World Diliman initiative, a marketplace for rescued produce, and a programme addressing child wasting and stunting also likely involve employee volunteers in various capacities.

SMC’s commitment to a context-focused approach to corporate giving aims to create social benefits that extend beyond traditional philanthropy.

The future of employee volunteering in the Philippines

Despite the growing enthusiasm for employee volunteerism, companies in the Philippines face several challenges in implementing and sustaining these programmes.

Balancing the formal structures of corporate programmes with the inherent spirit of community-driven volunteerism can be delicate. Limited resources within organisations and the personal time constraints of employees also pose significant hurdles.

Maintaining consistent employee engagement and ensuring that volunteer efforts align with both employee interests and company values require ongoing effort and strategic planning.

Some studies also indicate that volunteers can face challenges such as poor time management, depleted well-being, and limited finances.

The evolving role of technology and the increasing prevalence of hybrid work arrangements are also shaping the future of employee volunteerism.

Technology offers innovative solutions for enhancing the efficiency and reach of CSR initiatives, including volunteer programmes. The shift towards hybrid work necessitates adapting volunteer programmes to include digital and virtual opportunities, allowing remote employees to participate and fostering a sense of connection within a distributed workforce.

Looking ahead, the prospects for corporate volunteerism in the Philippines appear promising. There is a clear trend towards more strategic and impactful CSR initiatives, with employee volunteerism playing a vital role in achieving these goals.

As companies increasingly recognise the benefits of engaged employees and positive community impact, investing in well-structured and adaptable volunteer programmes is likely to become even more critical.