With the growing national stress caused by low wages, income
inequity, hunger and attacks on civil rights, a new “Fact of Life” imposed by
the business community—not government or
governmental agencies—will tackle and solves many of these social ills early in
the 21st Century.
Business has the power
Here’s one recent example.
For weeks, Indiana Governor Mike
Pence (R) talked about and then signed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act
which allowed businesses in his state to discriminate against LGBT folks. Marc
Benioff, Salesforce CEO, took umbrage at the move and stated loud and clear
that he would take his business and staff elsewhere. A number of Marc’s
powerful CEO friends—Apple and PayPay for starters—talked about pulling the
plug as well right after Gov. Pense signed the bill.
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| Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO |
In the very next week Gov. Pence signed an updated version of
the bill where no discrimination of LGBT folks was allowed in Indiana . Then a very expensive international
public relations firm was hired by the state to fix the extensive damage
Gov. Pence’s illogical law caused to Indiana ’s
business environment.
Businesses usually hire lobbyists to influence legislators
and legislation. It’s an expensive and time consuming process keeping managers
out of the limelight. This time, however, it only took one powerful, principled voice—with a little help from his friends–a week to make a major
change and protect the civil rights of all Indiana citizens. Turns out taking tax money
and jobs away is a more effective way to bring about change than forking over a
bunch of cash to governmental decision makers.
In the past individual business owners have stood up and
championed ideas such as Arianna Huffington’s
Third Metric
concept which is attempting to “redefine success beyond money and power.” Arianna is the co-founder and editor in chief of the Huffington Post.
Then there is Howard Shultz, Starbucks CEO who encourages his company, managers and staff “To be innovators, leaders and contributors to an inclusive society and a healthy environment so that Starbucks and everyone we touch can endure and thrive.”
Then there is Howard Shultz, Starbucks CEO who encourages his company, managers and staff “To be innovators, leaders and contributors to an inclusive society and a healthy environment so that Starbucks and everyone we touch can endure and thrive.”
What is important to
understand at this juncture is the future of real change and the evolution of real
humanitarian ideals will only take one business leader imbued with high road chutzpah to lead the way. And it appears right now
that Marc
Benioff is that person. On April 23, 2015 he announced that he implemented
a program to insure that women’s pay is equitable with men’s pay throughout his
entire company. There is no doubt that other progressive business leaders will
join him in his quest to make things right. This will only embolden Marc
Benioff to do more to make things better in America .
Such a unified business
force could then circumvent politics and fix the roads, fix the
educational system, fix the voting system by simply moving their money and
their companies to states where the roads are repaired, educate is a priority and
equality in all things is the order of the day. To help build those corporate relationships
businesses should turn to something they and their companies are already deeply
engaged in … community service.
Taking Community Service
to the next level
Most top
executives in the Fortune 500 engaged in nonprofit activities such as board
membership and charity events. This philanthropic networking is good for the
bottom line. Likewise, many of their human resources managers understand that
people who volunteer are more physically and psychologically healthy than those
who don’t. In addition, community service participants are more honest and make
better customer service representatives. For this reason, HR departments across
the country now view volunteer experience to be as important as paid experience.
These companies also encourage their employees to get
involved in community service and the companies themselves sponsor community
service programs or special fund raising events. The end result is employees at
such community service minded companies are happier, more productive and like
their companies more.
On the consumer side, customers tend to favor companies that
get involved in community service work which in turn influences their
purchasing decisions.
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| Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor in chief, Huffington Post |
Getting Community
Service Under Control
What would happen if the accountability of volunteer work
hours in community service organizations across the country were
standardized? In addition, what would
happen if all corporations required all of their job applicants to present a
standardized certificate of volunteer service? The answer is as simple as the
concept. America would
become a better America .
Establishing a New
“Fact of Life”
The Franklin
Project, an initiative dreamed up by General Stanley McChrystal proposes a
one-year community service conscription program (draft) for our youth. Alan Khazei, the co-founder of City Year, an AmeriCorps national
service program, picked up the McChrystal gauntlet and is fostering a one year
“rite of passage” service program.
Community Service is a wonderful idea but this
“conscription” concept will never work because it will require huge amounts of
government funding and government control. In addition, today’s youngsters are
into the freedom and connectivity of technology and do not need a military-like
“band of brothers and sisters” experience to feel connected to their peers.
They already have a universal connectivity that never existed before.
Over Looked Fact
Drafts generally target the working class because their numbers are great and their ability to resistance is predictably low. On the other hand, people of means are often able to take advantage of most exemptions or they can count on their wealth to tip the scales in their favor.
Creating An Empathetic Future for America
What young people need—rich and poor alike—is a new “Fact of Life” requirement to prepare them for the many varied responsibilities of adulthood. For instance, they need a high school diploma or a college diploma to land a lucrative job. They need to pass a written and driving test to get a license to drive. These are just a “Fact of Life” inAmerica .
They can do them or not. If they fail to participate, their work options are somewhat limited.
Creating An Empathetic Future for America
What young people need—rich and poor alike—is a new “Fact of Life” requirement to prepare them for the many varied responsibilities of adulthood. For instance, they need a high school diploma or a college diploma to land a lucrative job. They need to pass a written and driving test to get a license to drive. These are just a “Fact of Life” in
The Twenty Eighty
Community Service Program
How the program works
In pictures ...
Corporations
commit to promoting national community service by stating that in 2016 they
will require each new job
applicant to have a Twenty Eighty Community Service Certificate when applying
for a job.
The accrediting organization retains a tech company to manage the certification process and establish a database.
Students and
citizens of all
ages begin
acquiring hours of community service under the new Twenty
Eighty program. When they accumulate 2,080 hours of service they will be
awarded a certificate.
Beginning in
2016, the Twenty Eighty Certificate will be part of the job application process
for all participating corporations.
In words …
Volunteering May Help Your Career More Than You Think. Brazencareerist.com
http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2011/09/07/volunteering-helps-your-career/
Volunteer Work and Well Being. National Institutes of Health
- Major corporations establish and fund a Twenty Eighty Community Certificate Accrediting organization. This organization will have a very small staff, perhaps 4 people at most and will cost between $200,000 and $500,000 per years. Annual fees from member corporations will offset these costs.
- The Accrediting organization will establish operational and governing rules and a database of those applying for and those receiving Twenty Eight certificates. A contracted firm will manage the database of nonprofits and volunteers and the printing of certificates (digital or paper). These costs too will be paid for with corporate membership fees. Note: Non profits and volunteers pay no fees.
- The Accrediting organization will contact and register nonprofit organizations around the country. If they agree to comply with Twenty Eighty requirements, they will receive a free membership and printed/digital certificates to distribute to their volunteers.
- Volunteers who wish their nonprofit or charity to be recognized by the Twenty Eighty organization can submit a request for accreditation.
- Beginning in 2016 all member corporations will require the Twenty Eighty certificate for new hires.
- Corporations with fewer than 100 employees will be allowed to join without paying an annual fee.
- The membership allows access to view the database on the Twenty-Eighty website.
SPECIAL NOTE: The
organizational and operational details given here are preliminary. Once the
Accrediting organization has been created, more exacting processes will have to
be established.
A Win-Win-Win-Win Situation
Community Service is
an extremely beneficial activity
for all involved.
Business
o Customers often make decisions to buy
products based on a company’s participation in local and national charities.
o Companies engaged in community service are
better liked by their employees
Employees
o Productivity and morale is enhanced when
employees are encouraged to participate in community service projects.
o More empathetic employees develop better
customer service skills
o Those employees who engaged in community
service are generally healthier and happier than those who do not. This affects productivity and
company medical costs.
Students
o Nearly all schools today—grammar and
secondary levels—participate in “Service Learning” during the school year. The
reason is students devoting
time to volunteer work earn higher grades, are able to focus better, exhibit
“positive lifestyle choices and behavior, have
higher self esteem and are generally more satisfied with their lives.”
Senior Citizens
o Study after study focusing on the physical
and mental stability of senior volunteers consistently find “lower mortality
rates, greater functional
ability and lower rates of depression later in life.”
RECOMMENDATION
It is often said, the business of America is business.
Since that statement, too, is a “fact of life” in the United States ,
then all of the businesses in the country—large and small—should adopt the
standardization of Community Service. It is an intelligent approach to not only
maximize profits and productivity, but help millions upon millions of needy
citizens in a more cost-effective way.
Public Domain
The Twenty Eight Program is in the public domain. Please
feel free to take this proposal and make it a reality.
Resources
The Franklin Project, a program at The Aspen Institute is studying ways to create a "voluntary civilian counterpart to the military service in the United States."
Get Involved. The Impact and Benefits of Serving. Corporation for National and Community Service
http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps/get-involved
The Health and
Benefits of Volunteering. Corporation for National and Community Service
Volunteering May Help Your Career More Than You Think. Brazencareerist.com
http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2011/09/07/volunteering-helps-your-career/
Volunteer Work and Well Being. National Institutes of Health
The
Benefits of Employee Volunteer Programs. Junior Achievement
Making Business Sense of Community Service
Harvard Community Service study
Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Research
