Business Trends
Employees Want to Work for Companies That Reflect Their Values
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n a continued effort to attract and retain employees, companies are focusing more than ever on corporate social responsibility efforts, often referred to as CSR. Why? Because today’s workers, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, tend to seek out companies that align with their own values. What these values are can differ from employee to employee and company to company, but the bottom line is that CSR tends to improve employee morale and lead to greater productivity and retention. Corporate social responsibility can mean supporting nonprofits working for any number of causes, whether that be through cash donations or giving employees time off to volunteer. But, it can also mean taking care of employees, too. Two years into the pandemic, companies are displaying their commitment to their workforce, for example, by instituting dedicated sick days, paying a greater portion of health insurance premiums or contributing toward student loan debt. Other examples of CSR can involve workplace practices like operating a paperless office or starting a recycling program. Large or small, employees take notice. If a workplace culture aligns with their values, they tend to stay; if it doesn’t, they may look elsewhere. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, 85% of Millennials believe that making a difference in the world is 52 • Northeast Dairy Foods Association, Inc.
more important than professional recognition. A survey by Net Impact found that 72% of students about to enter the workforce (Generation Z) are seeking a job where they can “make an impact.”
STEWART’S SHOPS EXEMPLIFIES GIVING BACK
Many members of the Northeast Dairy Foods Association and the Northeast Dairy Suppliers Association incorporate CSR into their company values. One that stands out for its continual generosity to its customers, employees and community is Stewart’s Shops, a 77-year-old company that started out as an ice cream shop in Ballston Spa, New York, and now has more than 350
convenience stores and 4,500 employees across the Capital Region of Upstate New York and in Vermont. According to Connor Lynch, public relations specialist for the company, it’s important for Stewart’s to be able to do good and share its success with their customers. “Sharing and giving back is a part of who we are,” he said. “We think it is important to support our communities the same way the communities support us.” In 2022, Stewart’s goal is to donate $8 million dollars across its market areas. These donations go to charitable non-profits, schools or municipalities, in an effort to improve the communities surrounding Stewart’s locations.
