While I’ll be the first one to admit the summer is moving too fast – we have to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that the holidays will be here before we know it.

For many of us the holidays are about giving. And while many reward and recognition programs see an increase in redemption for rewards during this timeframe (with redemption often being synonymous with holiday shopping) – it’s not always about the “stuff.”

Allowing employees the opportunity to redeem points for items with a charitable component can go a long way for both the employer and the employee. There are various ways to do this including:

• Offering specific products in the award selection that when redeemed – the manufacturer makes a donation to a designated cause
• Allowing participants to redeem points for a “gift card” that facilitates a direct donation to the charities of their choice
• Allowing employees to redeem points for time out of the office for an approved volunteer opportunity (e.g. Habitat for Humanity, United Way Day of Caring, etc.)

A major benefit of incorporating social responsibility into your company culture is that employee engagement, loyalty, and productivity increase in companies that do so properly.

At All Star, social responsibility is one of the six main disciplines in our wellness program. Employees are given the opportunity to participate in committees. The social responsibility committee works together to find opportunities for employees to volunteer, donate, and participate. Not only does the company give the employees a voice in how they can contribute but also the means to do so within and outside of our workday – which is a critical component to making it work.

And while the holidays tend to be a reminder about the spirit of giving – the pay it forward concept can and should be included year round into both a company’s culture and its reward and recognition programs.

Check out this article from Incentive Magazine that offers the Top 10 Ways to Use CSR to Motivate Employees.