The attractiveness and retention of talent are major challenges for companies, especially in a context of increased competition and skills shortages that we are currently experiencing. High salaries, benefits, and career growth opportunities are all ways to attract employees.

However, these incentives are no longer enough to attract and retain talent the most promising. Solidarity commitment, on the other hand, could well change the situation! Find out how in this article!

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What is solidarity commitment?

Solidarity commitment is an initiative that consists in offering employees the opportunity to achieve societal and environmental actions in business.

These actions may vary depending on the company and its mission. Their main objective may be to support local populations, to improve the quality of life of people in need or to protect the environment.

Discover 10 inspiring ideas to find the cause that is important to you.

These solidarity initiatives can take various forms:

• Skill sponsorship;
• Volunteering;
• Donation of money or equipment;
• Or even the organization of charity events.

And their benefits are numerous:

• Strengthening the feeling of belonging to the company;
• Development of the skills of employees and their personal development;
• And contribution to the general interest.

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Why does solidarity commitment play a role in attracting and retaining talent?

Solidarity engagement is an effective way to attract talent.

92% of employees are looking for meaning
Study 2022, Audencia and Jobs That Make Sense

By offering its teams to create solidarity actions, the company shows that it is concerned about its social and environmental responsibility, by offering prospects for engagement to future employees. It is a criterion that is often decisive for candidates, especially the younger generations who attach great importance to these values.

It should then be noted that solidarity commitment can contribute to the retention of talent by strengthening their commitment to the company. How? Employees who participate in solidarity actions are often more motivated and committed, because they feel that they are contributing to a cause that goes beyond their own interests and those of the company.

These actions reinforce their pride in belonging to the company and their confidence in its commitment to the general interest. Solidarity commitment promotes team spirit andinclusion in business, by creating moments of sharing and mutual aid, such as during solidarity team buildings. It's a great way to retain new talent.

Need an example? Discover how Boehringer Ingelheim engages its employees in social actions

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How do you let candidates know about your company's commitment?

So that candidates can see your achievements, be sure to broadcast them on the media they will consult when looking for a job.

You can communicate about your actions via various channels:

• Your company pages that you created on recruitment sites;
• Your own career site if you have one;
• A dedicated page on your website;
• Or on professional social networks such as LinkedIn.

In this article, discover all the tips to launch your mentoring program with an association.

You can also count on your current employees to communicate about your solidarity actions. The latter are genuine Future spokesperson for your business. Implement a strategy forEmployee Advocacy or “employee ambassador” will make it possible to make your commitments visible externally.

Have you just collected toys in your offices for an association? Suggest to the employees who participated in it to publish a post on their own LinkedIn account to share this great action and the impact generated.

Did your marketing team carry out a solidarity mission in the field with an association? Take the opportunity to shoot a few images and make a dedicated video. You can then broadcast it on the company's social networks and identify the participants in order to reach an even wider audience.

This type of communication, in favor Of the employer brand, is not new. Companies are increasingly sharing their solidarity actions, to highlight possible commitments within the company and attract talent.

We obviously advise companies to only communicate on actions that have actually been carried out. Be careful not to fall into the social washing or greenwashing!

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Solidarity commitment, but not only...

It is obvious that solidarity commitment is a good way to retain employees. But it's important that it complements a positive corporate culture.

To do this, businesses can proceed in various ways:

• Create an environment where employees feel valued and respected is essential for strengthen employee engagement.
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• Offer benefits such as flexible hours, paid time off, and continuing education opportunities to help employees develop professionally.
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• Offer a fair salary in relation to the market to attract the best candidates.
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• Have a transparent remuneration policy, so that employees know that they are being treated fairly.
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• Finally, good communication is essential to maintain a positive relationship with employees. Businesses should provide constructive feedback to employees on a regular basis about their work and performance. This makes it possible to strengthen trust between the employer and the employee.

Attracting and retaining talent in business therefore requires a combination of strategies. Both purely HR but also solidarity, thanks to a strong commitment on the part of companies.

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Do you need help to build your solidarity commitment program? Contact us!

Komeet is the expert platform for solidarity engagement that connects businesses and associations for the general interest. We can assist you in setting up your solidarity program and in applying it throughout the year to support associations.‍

Discover Komeet