Why Giving Back at Work Matters More Than Ever

READ TIME - 4 minute read

When I launched Gateway 18 years ago, one of my personal objectives was simple: I wanted to build a business that gave back. Not just in the big, flashy-cheque way (which, let’s be honest, wasn’t going to happen as a tiny start-up!) — but in ways that were meaningful, practical and genuinely helpful.

As a small business, large donations weren’t realistic.
But what was possible?

• Choosing a Charity of the Year

• Offering charity discounts

• Supporting local causes

• And importantly, allowing the team time off for volunteering

Those foundations have stayed with us, shaping what Gateway is today.
And on a personal level, that commitment to “giving back” has allowed me to serve as a Trustee for several organisations, something I am incredibly grateful for — and which has made me a better leader, colleague and human being.

Last week I was honoured to be nominated for, and accepted, the position of Vice Chair with North Northants Citizens Advice. An organisation I have been honoured to work with for many years. Ever wonder what impact a small team can make, just look at this:

Why volunteering at work matters

More and more employees want to work for organisations that contribute positively to society — and not just through annual fundraising totals. People want to feel their work, time and skills make a difference.

Offering volunteering time during work hours – whether that’s individual volunteering, fundraising, skill-sharing, or group projects – isn’t just a nice gesture. It genuinely benefits individuals, teams and organisations.

Here’s what the research shows:

 1. Volunteering boosts wellbeing and resilience

• A major study of 46,000 UK employees found that workplace volunteering was one of the few interventions proven to significantly improve well-being.

• The NCVO’s “Time Well Spent” survey found 77% of volunteers reported improved mental health, confidence and life satisfaction as a result of volunteering.

In a world where burnout is rising, anything that boosts resilience is worth serious consideration.

2. It strengthens engagement and purpose

Employees increasingly want roles that contribute beyond the day-to-day.
Volunteering helps people:

• feel connected to community impact

• find meaning in their work

• build pride in their organisation

This is especially powerful for younger generations entering the workforce, who rank “purpose” consistently above salary.

3. It builds skills organisations benefit from

Volunteering develops:

• leadership

• communication

• problem-solving

• empathy

• teamwork

• real-world decision-making

These skills transfer directly back into the organisation — and often surface strengths you don’t always see in the day job.

One piece of research from the Royal Voluntary Service estimated that fully adopting employee volunteering could unlock productivity gains of £5,239 per employee per year. That’s significant.

4. It boosts retention and employer brand

Organisations with strong volunteering programmes report:

• higher retention

• stronger culture

• better collaboration

• improved reputation in recruitment markets

Several companies have won sustainability, community and employer-of-choice awards specifically because of their volunteering policies — demonstrating how strongly this resonates internally and externally.

What this means for us at Gateway

We’re a values-driven business.

Giving our team the flexibility and support to volunteer isn’t a nice add-on — it’s part of who we are.

Whether someone wants to:

• spend time volunteering for a charity close to their heart

• support fundraising activities

• or use their professional skills as a volunteer (e.g., mentoring, board roles, project support)

…we want to make space for that.

It benefits the person.
It benefits their team.
And it benefits Gateway.

Giving back matters.

And when we enable it at work, we’re not just helping the world outside our doors — we’re creating a workplace where people feel proud, connected and valued.

Until next week…

Best wishes,
Emma

P.S. For those of you who are HR Hub members, there is a volunteering guide in the benefits section. Not yet a Hub member? Why not try the HR Hub free for a month here.

P.P.S. Also for clients, all our events (lunch and learns, HR Masterclasses and HR Clinics) for 2026 are now planned and in the calendar. Take a look here and get booking your places. T

Events to Join in the coming weeks

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Sickness Absence - — understanding the real costs, reducing absenteeism, and preparing for the 2026 changes.

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Conflict - recognising conflict, understanding the causes and how to manage conflict when it occurs.

🎥 Free Webinar on The Value of Values - Coming in December, click the link to join the list to be sent it as soon as it is released.

🎥 LinkedIn Live on Sexual Harassment Legislation and How to Be Complaint - Click on re-watch it.

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