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Survey: One-Third of Job Seekers Want to Work for Companies That Give Back to the Community

TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Nice guys may finish last, but a new OfficeTeam survey suggests that nice companies can lead the race for many when it comes to recruiting. More than three in 10 (31 per cent) professionals said an organization's participation in charitable activities has at least somewhat of an influence in their decision to work there.

The survey of office workers was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 275 Canadians 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.

Workers were asked, "To what extent does a company's participation in charitable activities influence your decision to work there?" Their responses:

"Though giving back to the community may not be the number one deciding factor in attracting prospective employees, companies can't ignore the fact that a large segment of their workforce values corporate altruism, and that it can be one deciding factor in the war for talent," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam.

"Philanthropy programs can be a selling point when recruiting candidates and also help improve employee retention. Organizations can increase team morale and participation in charitable activities by aligning with causes that resonate with staff."

OfficeTeam identifies five ways to incorporate philanthropic activities into your company's workplace:

1. Give back. Organize a clothing, toy or food drive that benefits a nonprofit organization.
2. Get involved. Provide the opportunity for employees to volunteer as a group at a soup kitchen or beach cleanup. This doubles as a great team-building activity.
3. Show your support. Sponsor, host or participate in a charity event such as an auction or 5K run.
4. Chip in. Donate to causes that matter most to employees, such as disaster-relief efforts or local schools.
5. Match it. Consider offering a matching-gifts program that supplements workers' charitable contributions or activities.

About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com. Follow OfficeTeam at twitter.com/officeteam, and gain insights into the latest administrative hiring and salary trends at www.officeteam.com/salarycentre.

SOURCE Robert Half Canada

Image with caption: "OfficeTeam Survey: One-Third of Job Seekers Want to Work for Companies That Give Back to the Community (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131212_C9852_PHOTO_EN_34889.jpg