Organizations can encourage staff to get involved in voluntary work and recognize that they may want to do good for their communities. Staff who undertake voluntary work appear to be better, more rounded, and more capable individuals, and so better employees. Employees also like to think that they are working for a company that cares about the local community. Fift- five companies who are on Fortune’s annual list of 100 best companies to work for give paid time off for volunteering (Fortune, 2016).

See web pages of companies such as KPMG (http://www.kpmg.com/uk/en/about/whatmakesusdifferent/ourapproachtocorporateresponsibility/Pages/default.aspx).

Questions

1. A cynic might argue that the benefits to the companies—in terms of good publicity, and employee and public relations—are greater than the costs. Would this be fair?

2. How big are the benefits to the communities compared to the benefits that the companies reap in profits? Is that fair in your view?

3. How would you make an evaluation of costs and benefits?