why is it more inefficent?
by packing bags the bags get packed pretty much for free by donating the bags get packed by a comnpnay that takes a sclice of profit and also pays the workers to pack the bags
"Giving Back" corporate activities
- Thread starter EvilRob
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why is it more inefficent?
by packing bags the bags get packed pretty much for free by donating the bags get packed by a comnpnay that takes a sclice of profit and also pays the workers to pack the bags
this.
there is a a certain benift from a days physical work as a team compared to office work.
I think you've kind of answered your own question - the idea is that it promotes team building / feel-good factor etc in addition to any practical benefits.
I expect it is also an easier sell to the employees as it doesn't involve them having a financial penalty, or conversely the stigma that might be associated with an opt-out (i.e. say you have 10 people, 8 donate money and 2 opt-out, this then creates a division between those donating and those not.
I expect it is also an easier sell to the employees as it doesn't involve them having a financial penalty, or conversely the stigma that might be associated with an opt-out (i.e. say you have 10 people, 8 donate money and 2 opt-out, this then creates a division between those donating and those not.
A one off packing of food is of marginal benefit and is tackling a cause that is well provisioned already. The main benefit of such an activity is the 'team building' etc.. on the part of the people doing the 'charity work' for a day.
I'm sure the charity will be grateful all the same but it just isn't an efficient use of time, especially for people earning high salaries.
it's more efficient from a charity point of view.
because no ****** is donating a full days pay, but they'll do a days work place activity while being paid.
so effectively the company funds one days packing costs + some advertising costs.
so in terms of producing the most output it's efficient.
Agreed, whatever activity is done should be worthwhile. When people have to devote time [rather than just money] to something, there is generally more thought goes into picking that activity and making sure it's carried out effectively.
Dunno about where you all work, but we're regularly shaken down by colleagues for donations to something or other. Combine it with the "Hey, do you want talk about pandas then setup a Direct Debit" students ch-ugging in the high street and the donating time for a worthy cause is lot more appealing.
Not at all, you're completely ignoring that this is an area that is already well provisioned. High wage individuals spending time packing meals as a one off activity is about as inefficient as you can get. Like I said before the OP simply making a donation to say buying mosquito nets would be doing more than the rest of them combined.
Where I work we have 'Community Days' and every member of staff is expected to do one (we have over 18k staff so it's a lot of man hours)
We have partnerships with tons of charities and last year I got to go to Marwell Zoo and help them do some gardening work.
It was great fun, we were outside on a lovely day instead of stuck in the office and I got to see all the animals FOR FREE!!
We have partnerships with tons of charities and last year I got to go to Marwell Zoo and help them do some gardening work.
It was great fun, we were outside on a lovely day instead of stuck in the office and I got to see all the animals FOR FREE!!
Interesting views.
I agree with those stating that the best way would be to do something that utilises our professional skills rather than unskilled labour. This would provide higher value while still achieving the aims of giving back to society and potentially team building. Might be difficult though - will have to think about what we could do.
To those who say "someone has to pack it, they need volunteers" and is therefore a good use of the time, I disagree. If we just donated a couple of hours pay instead they could hire way more hours of packers.
I agree with those stating that the best way would be to do something that utilises our professional skills rather than unskilled labour. This would provide higher value while still achieving the aims of giving back to society and potentially team building. Might be difficult though - will have to think about what we could do.
To those who say "someone has to pack it, they need volunteers" and is therefore a good use of the time, I disagree. If we just donated a couple of hours pay instead they could hire way more hours of packers.
This is probably true, sadly.
There's also being realistic. These are businesses, they don't have time and resources to sit there strategising what's most efficient re charity. Whatever they're doing is better than doing nothing which is what most businesses do.
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Hewlett Packard used to do this but I never took part. If I want to do charity work I'll do it in my own time (which I did/do) - I don't see why the company should get the good publicity for my contributions though.
I work for a small business.
They are not great employers but they do quite a bit of charity/community work.
This year they put on a Santa's grotto for kids, proceeds went to charity (cancer research I think)
We raised quite a bit of money and the kids seemed to enjoy it.
We are an exhibition company so it's just like doing another job.
Can you company donate a service and ask staff to donate some time?
They are not great employers but they do quite a bit of charity/community work.
This year they put on a Santa's grotto for kids, proceeds went to charity (cancer research I think)
We raised quite a bit of money and the kids seemed to enjoy it.
We are an exhibition company so it's just like doing another job.
Can you company donate a service and ask staff to donate some time?
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Well if they're paying you to be there, it is sort of their contribution as you're on their time
I agree with OP, we were involved in one of these recently and spent half a day picking up litter along a canal. There was virtually no litter and it was a complete waste of time.
Had half a day of our pay been given to a charity that would come to approx £10-20k for our office alone. Considering that the whole company was involved it would probably amount to seven figures plus.
It's nothing more than a PR event.
Had half a day of our pay been given to a charity that would come to approx £10-20k for our office alone. Considering that the whole company was involved it would probably amount to seven figures plus.
It's nothing more than a PR event.
Agreed. I'm lucky to be with a company that does charity particularly well. Here was our lots effort for this year.
We've done a few other things as well like getting Pete (our drive time presenter) to absail down emley moor mast and getting listeners to the top of it while we did a live broadcast up there. So far we've raised about £25k for Candlelighters in Leeds (who look after families of children with cancer and do some AMAZING work), and we're shooting for £30k by the end of the financial year. We do also do some rubbish stuff like our dress loud day but that was just an excuse for everyone to chuck a few quid into a pot and to get the rest of the office block involved.
We've done a few other things as well like getting Pete (our drive time presenter) to absail down emley moor mast and getting listeners to the top of it while we did a live broadcast up there. So far we've raised about £25k for Candlelighters in Leeds (who look after families of children with cancer and do some AMAZING work), and we're shooting for £30k by the end of the financial year. We do also do some rubbish stuff like our dress loud day but that was just an excuse for everyone to chuck a few quid into a pot and to get the rest of the office block involved.
And for seven figures plus you could have made a serious contribution/saved lives. That is if the muppets in charge had just put a small amount of thought into it instead of turning into a feel good/pat yourself in the back day that achieved very little.
