Benevity launches a climate kit to give employers actionable resources

As climate change increasingly takes its toll, employers are being asked to respond with resources and practices that can help their employees make an impact. 

A report from Cone Communications found that 76% of Americans expect companies to take action against climate change, while 73% would stop purchasing from a company that shows disinterest in taking positive steps to tackle the climate crisis. Additionally, 66% of young people want to work for socially responsible companies, according to Gitnux, making these efforts critical for recruiting and retention in the future. 

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To support these efforts, corporate purpose software firm Benevity recently launched their Climate Action Kit, which provides employers with customizable lists of volunteer, donation and over 150 micro-action opportunities to address climate change. In partnership with Count Us In, the climate kit offers resources for employer clients like Nike, Coca-Cola, Google and Apple to focus on reducing their carbon footprint.  

"It's a simple way to allow employees to participate in a way that works for them," says Janeen Speer, chief people officer at Benevity. "Whether it's giving, volunteering, or micro actions, they can choose where on that continuum works for them. What do they have the time to do and how can they participate? Finding those moments of purpose and connection is really important."

Whether employees choose to donate and receive an employer match, team up with coworkers for a volunteer day, or simply commit to turning off lights each time they leave a room, it can have a major impact, both on the environment and their connection to their employer, Speer says. Seven out of 10 companies are increasing their reliance on volunteering to improve connections and cohesion with their people, according to Benevity's State of Corporate Purpose Report, and data from their recent Talent Retention Report shows a 52% lower turnover rate among new employees who participate in corporate social responsibility programs. 

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Benevity, as well as their participating clients, are finding environmental initiatives are well-received within their workforce, and they've used the Climate Kit themselves to guide employees in the right direction.

"We're headquartered in Calgary, which is part of the Rocky Mountains where we've had wildfires recently burning," says Speer. "We use the Climate Action Kit to empower our employees to take action, as well as to promote local causes that are helping with what's going on right now, and we offer matching funds from the company. We definitely saw an uptick in participation when the company was willing to match the efforts of their people." 

PayPal, another Climate Action Kit participant, used the resources to promote initiatives that resulted in over 29,000 kilowatts of energy, 10,000 gallons of water and 1000 pounds of waste saved over a three-week period, and saw a 64% increase in participation from employees. 

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With small actions adding up to big results, employers can see an internal impact on retention and employee motivation, but also external results as the stories of what they are doing are published to the public, attracting both future employees and customers. For example, research from Gitnux states that over half of online consumers are willing to pay extra for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.

"As an employer, if you're able to work toward something that's bigger than yourself, and to do that in partnership [with employees], that partnership and working toward a collective goal is super important," Speer says.