Employee Acculturation - Working Together For A Cause

As an employer, you know that building your workforce into a cohesive team is the key to maximum productivity. However, this isn’t something that just happens naturally without any effort on your part. Practicing employee alignment by matching individuals with jobs that match their skill set is important. Slotting new hires into departments where their personality is a good fit for their immediate peers is another way to facilitate acculturation.

The Broad View

Your company also has to have a vision that acknowledges the value of connection between people - not just cooperation between coworkers. One way to accomplish this is by becoming more involved in the local community. Don’t just pass the hat for a charity and pledge to match the amount raised.
For a refreshing approach that really gets people involved, promote volunteerism. Give workers a day off with pay if they are willing to donate this time to working for a local non-profit organization. Here are a few ideas for places employees might volunteer:

• Soup kitchen or food pantry
• Habitat for Humanity
• Animal shelter
• Roadside cleanup
• Walk for a Cure
• Big Brothers & Sisters or HOPE tutoring
• Nursing home visitation or Meals on Wheels

There are, of course, many more options depending on your location. Choose one or two causes that your company will support. Consider taking a poll and letting employees be involved in the selection process. If possible, pick an organization that has no religious affiliation so all your workers can feel comfortable volunteering there.

Get Your New Hires On Board with This Concept

During the onboarding process, introduce employees to the ways your company is connected with the community. You don’t have to pressure them to get involved. Just add a page in your acculturation module that includes photos of company volunteers working together as a team.
Include links to more information along with statistics on the number of hours donated. Include an overview of the difference this makes in the community. That way, when the next volunteer opportunity arises, your new hires will already be excited about participating.