Employer of Choice E4: Giving Back

Host and Guests: Tom Parks, Director of Retirement Plan Services at Annex Wealth Management, is joined by Lori Malett and Eric Becher from Hatch Staffing to discuss being an employer of choice.

• Focus of Discussion: The episode shifts from previous topics (flexibility, compensation) to fostering a culture of giving back within a company as a key element of workplace culture and employer appeal.
• Importance of Giving Back: Tom views giving back as essential for a positive company culture, influencing other aspects like flexibility and compensation, and requiring deliberate intent to implement effectively.
• Trends in Corporate Giving: 
  • Lori notes companies are rallying around specific charities meaningful to their employees.
  • Many offer paid volunteer hours as a benefit, encouraging community involvement and emphasizing collective responsibility for improving the local area.
• Team Dynamics: Tom suggests that working with colleagues uninterested in giving back could dampen workplace morale, implying it’s a marker of a collaborative, enjoyable team.
• Success Stories: 
  • Eric shares examples where Hatch Staffing rallied around employees facing personal challenges, strengthening team bonds and fostering a sense of purpose beyond material rewards.
  • Generosity is described as contagious, amplifying its impact when supported company-wide.
• Deliberate Implementation: 
  • Tom and guests agree that fostering a giving culture requires proactive effort, not just assumption it will happen naturally.
  • Annex Wealth Management, for example, has a charitable foundation, dedicated volunteer hours, and encourages involvement in personally meaningful causes.
• Practical Approaches: 
  • Companies can encourage involvement through small, authentic actions rather than grand gestures.
  • Lori emphasizes aligning giving with employees’ passions, noting Hatch staff often volunteer without claiming hours when the cause is personal.
• Pitfalls to Avoid: 
  • Eric suggests using tools like Charity Navigator to vet charities, avoiding those that misuse funds and could harm the company’s reputation.
  • Tom raises the risk of cynicism (e.g., perceptions of publicity stunts), but Lori counters that the community benefit outweighs such criticism.
• Guidelines: 
  • Avoid inauthenticity by focusing on employee-driven causes rather than arbitrary or highly publicized charities.
  • Posting about efforts on social media is framed as raising awareness, not gloating, to engage others in the cause.
• Broader Impact: 
  • Lori ties giving back to regional thriving—strong businesses support better communities, education, and overall quality of life in southeastern Wisconsin.
  • Even if some efforts are publicity-driven, the positive outcomes still matter.
• Final Thoughts: 
  • Education and listening to employees are key to embedding giving back into company culture.
  • This component links to upcoming topics (leadership, brand), reinforcing sincerity as critical to being an employer of choice.
• Next Steps: The series will continue exploring leadership and brand as additional building blocks for employer appeal.

Disclaimer: The podcast is for educational/entertainment purposes, provided by Annex Wealth Management LLC, and not intended as specific tax, legal, or investment advice. Listeners should consult qualified professionals for tailored advice.