Experts discussed approaches to the development of corporate volunteerism in Russia

A systematic approach to corporate volunteerism is becoming of great practical importance, said Yuri Blagov, Director of the Center for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Higher School of Management at St. Petersburg State University.

"Stakeholders involved in the implementation of corporate volunteerism programs and projects are beginning to realize it as a complex open system consisting of many interrelated elements united by complex goal-setting. And this system requires cross—functional management," Blagov said, speaking at a round table at the International Labor Forum.

The participants in the discussion were representatives of the main platforms for the development of core competencies — companies that are members of the National Council for Corporate Volunteerism (NSCV), the regional resource center for the development of volunteerism, representatives of the non-profit sector, as well as the academic environment.

According to Irina Zhukova, Chairman of the NSKV, "the importance of a systematic approach to the development of corporate volunteerism is due to the fact that today such activities are part of the business strategy of the companies included in the NSKV." "Volunteer activities help develop the leadership potential of participating employees, retain and attract new active employees, create and train related competencies, and contribute to the implementation of a company's sustainable development strategy," she said.

From the point of view of Irina Efremova-Garth, Director of Sustainable Development at Mobius Technologies, corporate volunteerism should be considered as "a multi-purpose, complex business process, but with all the characteristics inherent in business processes, including synchronization with business goals, a clear plan with clear performance indicators, an understanding of possible risks and management levers.", the availability of feedback and a well-thought-out system of employee engagement and motivation."

Anna Bushlyakova, Deputy Chairman of the NSKV, stressed that now the proportion of employees participating in volunteer projects is becoming a metric by which the company demonstrates its sustainability in the social, environmental and economic spheres.

According to the results of a survey conducted by the NSCB in 2024, an average of 17.2% of employees of large companies involved in the Council's activities are involved in volunteer activities.

"The systematic development of corporate volunteerism in a company is impossible without the active role of the HR function. This is completely logical, given that the main effects of corporate volunteerism are loyalty, engagement, and skill development," said Vadim Kovalev, Executive Secretary of the NSKV.

The Labor Forum is organized by the Government of St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg State University with the support of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Government of Russia.