Workplace Giving: Where Even 50c is Fine
3 April 2013 at 9:19 am
For a workplace giving program to be successful it has to be led by the team and backed by the company, writes Chief Executive of Collins Food Limited Kevin Perkins.
“A little goes a long way at Collins Foods Limited.”
A dollar will do and 50 cents is fine; and it’s been through this messaging that Collins Foods Limited has helped raise over $1.5 million for community partners in just four short years. It shows a little contribution really can go a long way.
As CEO of Collins Foods Limited, I have proudly advocated the company’s Workplace Giving Program since its launch in 2008, and have been incredibly impressed at its growth over the past four years.
The Workplace Giving Program encourages Sizzler and KFC Queensland staff to commit to regular donations from their wage. Collins Foods Limited matches staff donations up to $100,000 each year.
As leaders we are influencers, and it’s important to recognise that our responsibilities lie not only with our companies’ operations and shareholders, but that we also have a corporate social responsibility to maintain.
At Collins we seek to support the communities in which we operate, create a culture of sharing and utilise our size and reach to make a difference. People power is an amazing resource and one that can be tapped into in any organisation, in any industry.
It was important for us to foster a team approach from the very beginning, so we conducted a survey which revealed the five Not for Profit groups to benefit from the program. Building long term relationships with a select few groups would help staff see the tangible impact their support has on these partners.
We maintain ongoing relationships with each of the program’s recipients through dedicated Charity Champions.
We now have over 2,500 staff from 121 KFC stores and 27 Sizzler restaurants across Australia registered with the program. Their contributions, along with company support and customer donations, have helped raise $1.5 million for our community partners.
This is something the company is very proud of given so many staff are casual and are working at their restaurants and stores whilst still at school. It’s remarkable when staff as young as 15 are choosing to donate money from their weekly income for a worthy cause, even when that income is derived from a few hours of work.
For workplace giving to prosper at Collins, we had to ensure everyone felt comfortable that what they could afford would make a difference. Staff had to feel proud of the small amounts they could give, and not feel awkward that they maybe couldn't give as much as someone else.
We therefore actively highlighted that it didn’t matter if you gave as little as 50 cents, you could still make a difference.
From the beginning, our messaging fostered inclusivity and highlighted the positive impact that small, ongoing donations could have on local communities.
The program is successful at Collins because it is led by the team and backed by the company. With a steering committee, ongoing communications, restaurant management support, inclusion in induction training, user-friendly pledge forms and sophisticated payroll technology, the program is part of the employee culture of Sizzler and KFC and will continue for a long time to come.
About the author:
Kevin Perkins is President/Chief Executive Officer of Collins Foods Limited. He is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the groups' operations encompassing the brands KFC in Queensland Australia (121 restaurants) and Sizzler Restaurants in Australia and Asia (80 restaurants).
This article featured in the Workplace Giving Network Australia LinkedIn Group created by the Australian Charities Fund.
