We are really excited about a new initiative at Payoneer called the “Social Action Committee,” which is a group of about 15 employees that meet every 2 weeks to plan volunteer events in our local community. Research carried out by Deloitte in 2011 found that employees who frequently participate in company-organised volunteer activities were twice as likely to be very satisfied with the progression of their career and rate their corporate culture as very positive. These staff are also more likely to be very proud to work for their company.
Additionally, we believe that exposure to a new environment and new challenges will allow employees to break out of their comfort zone and develop other skills away from the office. According to Deloitte, 91% of Fortune 500 HR managers said that “volunteering knowledge and expertise to a nonprofit can be an effective way to cultivate critical business and leadership skills,” such as project management, communication, goal-setting and evaluation. These ‘soft’ skills might not be as easy to quantify, and they might not even be a part of an employee’s daily work, but they can make all the difference in cultivating leadership and planning for future success.
With these goals in mind, the entire Payoneer NY office headed down to the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in New York City- the largest emergency feeding program in the city- for our very first volunteer outing. The organization’s mission is to “feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, seek justice for the homeless, and provide a sense of hope and opportunity to those in need”. In addition to their food program, the staff and volunteers work with guests to ensure they are receiving full benefits, connect them to additional supportive services, help with job applications and even reunite them with family members.
Hunger is a serious social issue in the New York community. In fact, according to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, “One in six New York City residents (over 1.4 million) are food insecure”. For the Payoneer team, donating our time is a step towards being more aware of our local and international community.
The event was an eye-opening moment for many of our team members. Spending the day with the very people we were serving meant a lot to those who participated. “We could have easily written a check to them and been done with it, but our CFO was handling garbage behind me with a smile” says Customer Service Representative Roneya Columbus. “It’s about working hard and also giving. I am 110% more likely to volunteer again now that I had this experience.” Being present with one another in the space was powerful. When asked about how volunteering with his company impacted him, Business Strategy Associate Croom Beatty shared, “This is much more than a place to work”.
Ultimately, a great company always strives to be much more than a place to work. It means being committed to hard work, seeing the strengths of your coworkers, and valuing the community that you have created with one another. This is precisely what makes Payoneer a special place to be.
If you would like to volunteer with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, click here.
If you would like donate to the organization, click here.