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CSAA Insurance Group Achieves 100 percent Volunteerism Rate in 2018

Company partnered with VeraWorks to conduct research study to identify the impact and key benefits of its corporate volunteer program

 

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 9, 2019 – CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, recorded an employee volunteerism rate of 100 percent last year, achieving the highest employee volunteer participation rate in the U.S. by a company with 3,000 or more employees for the fourth consecutive year. In 2018, more than 3,800 CSAA IG employees volunteered 47,045 hours of time at more than 600 events across the country, representing approximately $1.16 million in value of employee hours.

"Caring is one of our company values and we believe our commitment to volunteerism is an integral part of what makes us a good corporate citizen and a great place to work," said Vanessa Chan, senior manager of community affairs at CSAA Insurance Group. "Our employees are one of our most valuable assets and that’s why we actively support and reward their efforts to pursue their passions in the workplace, at home and in the community."

Recognizing the value and impact of corporate volunteerism, CSAA Insurance Group decided to focus on increasing employee volunteerism rates beginning in 2012, with an ultimate goal to reach 80 percent. By 2015, the company achieved a 98 percent volunteerism rate and in 2017 reached 99 percent. CSAA Insurance Group offers employees 24 hours of paid time off to volunteer each year.

Each year, the company promotes 600 company-supported projects with nonprofit organizations including the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and The Crayon Initiative. Employees may also participate in multi-day outings to the Grand Canyon, as well as Zion and Yosemite National Parks. The company also offers independent volunteer hours to allow all employees to volunteer and become engaged.

To further study the impact of its corporate volunteerism program, CSAA Insurance Group partnered with VeraWorks, a global consulting firm that helps companies incorporate societal good into their business strategies. VeraWorks administered pre- and post-surveys to employees six months apart, observed volunteer events and conducted focus groups. Results are based on 210 employees who completed both surveys, or 20 percent of the original random sample of one-third of employees.

Key findings of the study include:

  • Study results suggest that CSAA Insurance Group benefits from an increase in employee engagement that appears to be driven by the volunteer program. Survey respondents who participated in volunteer activities over a six-month period experienced an uptick in engagement and those who didn’t participate (randomly selected control group) experienced a decrease.
  • Employees participate in the volunteer program because they find it intrinsically rewarding and not because they feel obligated or because they expect extrinsic rewards (e.g., supervisor approval or career connections).
  • Participants are overwhelmingly satisfied with the volunteer program experience with 97 percent saying they are "satisfied" or better and 83 percent being "very satisfied." They also report that, after family, volunteering is the most meaningful experience in their lives.
  • The program appears to create new volunteers as one out of six participants volunteered for the first time through CSAA Insurance Group.
     

"Good news for anybody interested in workplace purpose or corporate social responsibility," said Bea Boccalandro, lead researcher from VeraWorks. "More research will need to confirm these findings, but the CSAA Insurance Group study suggests that employer social-purpose activities are effective at driving employee engagement."

"We always believed that our employee volunteer program added value to the company, but it was refreshing to have the study validate the benefits and impact on both employees and the organization," said Chan. "We're incredibly proud to achieve the 100 percent employee volunteer participation rate milestone and we look forward to continuing to innovate our program to best serve our employees, company, customers and the communities we work in and serve."
 

About CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated “A” or better by A.M. Best for more than 90 years, and is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light. 

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