CORPORATE Team Building

WRITTEN BY DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR), PAT WHELAN

Philanthropic Team Building is one of the best ways for companies to improve employee engagement, satisfaction, enthusiasm, and increase employee retention. When businesses provide volunteer opportunities that their workers can participate in together, whether in-person or virtually, meaningful interpersonal connections are strengthened, and overall enthusiasm for their company’s mission and purpose increases. All of this is not only good for the bottom line but can build an organization’s profile in the community as one that cares for and invests in the community in which it works, whether volunteering by building a garden, volunteering at homeless shelters, animal shelters or schools.

A Disengaged Workforce

In 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that employees stay at their jobs is a little over four years. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that millennials now make up half of the workforce and see their jobs and careers through a lens much different than previous generations.Studies show that Millennials are driven by a passion for environmental and social causes. For many in this generation, their sense of social responsibility motivates them more than climbing the corporate ladder or attaining a certain social status. The Millennial Generation is looking to have a long-term impact on the future. The Gen X and Boomers are looking for interaction with others and the independence of working solo.We all long to find meaningful connections at work and be meaningfully connected to what they do. The teambuilding events need to be well organized, meaningful, no more than 2 hours and have a true visible impact.What happens when companies have high levels of employee disengagement? To say it takes a toll on an organization is an understatement. Here are just some of the effects on the corporate culture when employees don’t feel emotionally or behaviorally connected to their jobs.

Cultivating Enthusiastic and Committed Employees

When employees are engaged, they adopt the vision, values, and purpose of the organization they work for. They become passionate contributors, innovating problem solvers/ High-performing employees want to work in places and on a team like that. Obviously, getting and keeping employees engaged is, or should be, high on the list of considerations for employers.

How Does Urban Farming Education Meet the Needs

As mentioned, the employees appreciate a short time - long-term effect teambuilding, The participants enjoy learning new skills and sharing their knowledge. The UFE teambuilding events have the teams design and plant their garden, build the garden beds and tables, prepare the garden for donation to the cause of their choice.

The participants learn skills they can take home to plant their own garden or start a garden at a local school or facility. The gardeners can watch the growth of the garden and can be part of its success. The event doesn’t end when they leave the room- its starts with the first seed in the bag and succeeds for years to come. Each person leaves more informed on how they can impact the world.

How it works

Objective 1: Preparation

Teams will start an urban garden in an open-space:

  • Create a map of the area to decide where the various items will go. Teams talk to each other to make sure there is a consistent plan
  • Using the bag -system the teams lay the bags out on tables and carts. Number and label the bags and plant seeds in the bags
  • Team Members will bag freshly harvested produce and canned goods for distribution to those in need
  • Team members plant seeds in small containers. The containers are taken to Agave Farm Greenhouse and start the growing process
  • The seedlings will be used in the bags once they have grown

Objective 2: Maintenance & Aftercare

Once the garden is established (transported/laid out as designed by the group):

  • Watering system will be installed, tested and ready for the growing seasons.
  • Organization that the garden is donated to will maintain, plant and harvest (optional: the donating organization can be involved locally)
  • Donating group will receive pictures and video of the process

For more information, contact:

Pat Whelan

Director of CSR Programs
602-418-3500
PWhelan@WeAreUFE.org