Welcome to the Research Assistant Weekly Newsletter - a subscriber-only resource for insight into emerging compliance challenges, details on peer calls, and links to new Research Assistant reports, documents, tools, and more.
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During this week’s Research Assistant Peer Group call, a simple question about how companies are celebrating Martin Luther King Day led to a much broader and fascinating discussion. The conversation explored creative ways to honor holidays meaningfully, enhance employee satisfaction, strengthen a company’s reputation, and make a positive impact on local communities.
Several great ideas were shared, including hosting fun activities and fundraisers or encouraging employees to volunteer locally. These initiatives help foster a positive environment, promote employee engagement, and build a sense of loyalty and pride within your organization.
As for MLK day, one suggestion was to create a contest where you ask your staff to write a short essay about MLK day, and what it means to them. The winner of the best essay could receive a donation from your company to the charity of their choosing.
Since MLK day is not the only National Day of Service, another suggestion was to follow this philosophy throughout the year. Offer paid time off to volunteer, often referred to as “volunteer time off” (VTO). Call it VTO and set a yearly or quarterly limit. Have a form to submit to management with the details for approval. Helping local communities will make your employees proud of the company they work for and will give you a warm reputation within your local community. Plus, you are helping people in need.
Ask volunteers to run a committee. Each year, employees submit ideas for fun days that coincide with monthly holidays. Also ask about favorite charities. Once you have these lists, have all the employees vote and rate their favorite ideas and charities. The 12 ideas with the most votes should be calendared for each month and turned into fun days. On those days employees can choose to dress up, bring food, volunteer for a local charity event or do something else you decide.
The ideas are endless once you get started! Ultimately, this is about building relationships, honoring our differences, and making a positive impact. The end result should be employee loyalty, improved brand reputation and recognition, and increased business opportunities. It’s a win – win!
What not to do! Don’t forget to recognize the holidays your employees celebrate in their culture. They may not celebrate those usually recognized in the U.S. Ask for their input. Be sure if you send a companywide email or similar, have it review by another person (someone very different from you if possible) to limit the possibility of unintentionally insulting a culture or religion etc. Keep it simple or seek input from those you fear may not read as intended.
When you think outside the box and create this environment and company culture, you become a better company, a better employer and help the people of your community. Still not sure? Just ask an applicant, new hire, current employee or your clients what they think.
Documents and Crowdsourced Materials:
Top Reads:
Upcoming Webinars/ Other Announcements:
- First Research Assistant Compliance Corner Webinar is scheduled for Thursday, March 6th
- Important Announcement: All AI Notetaking Bots will be removed from Research Assistant Peer Group Meetings. This is to maintain the confidentiality of our peer members.
- Have topics you want to discuss during the peer call? Please send them to Sara_Consultant@roundtables.us by Thursday to ensure it makes it on our agenda!
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