The Volunteers programme is an initiative that shows how the employees are the real protagonists in the social action carried out by Telefónica in the countries where it operates, as they are the main engine in a significant number of the projects that are carried out.
Corporate Volunteering: the answer to many needs
Society increasingly calls on companies to be socially responsible. On the other hand, many workers are keen to contribute their personal and professional skills towards addressing current social problems.
An efficient solution for both of these issues is Corporate Volunteering, a focus point for action in the field of social responsibility, through which companies enable and encourage employees to carry out social work by organising particular activities, which may or may not be associated to the company's social action programmes, dedicating hours of work towards these activities or funding the projects in which its employees are involved.
Nowadays, many small and large companies have decided on this modality of solidarity, which strengthens the links between the company and society as well as the company's relationship with its employees.
Volunteers, a programme for all Telefónica employees
Two of the pillars thaty Telefónica Group's corporate social responsibility is based on are its commitments to society and to solidarity, contributing towards the attainment of general interests through economic and social development in the countries where it operates. In this regard, the Volunteers programme has the aim of developing a solidarity network formed by people working in the various companies in the Group, who believe that they can contribute some of their knowledge, time and enthusiasm towards improving the quality of life and well-being of the neediest groups.
The programme (which is of a transnational nature, since it is currently running in 14 countries, and which is open to all of the employees in the Telefónica Group) has the purpose of encouraging and promoting social and cooperation activities, offering participants the necessary resources so that these activities may have a positive effect on society. This means that the employees are the real protagonists of the company's social action.
Horizontality is one of the characteristics that most accurately define the Volunteers programme. The possibility of all of the Group's employees becoming involved allows to develop, among other aspects, leadership skills in people that do not hold hierarchical posts. This means that employees can develop new personal and creative skills and abilities, thus promoting dynamic networks of workers that promote internal communication.