General Casualty recently honored 69 employee volunteers and donated $11,814 to non-profit organizations in their honor as a part of the company's Special Employee Recognition for Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) program.
"General Casualty has earned the reputation as a good corporate citizen, which is largely due to dedicated employees who go above and beyond to help others in their communities," said Hollie Bowker, General Casualty's corporate relations manager. "Our employees serve as mentors, food pantry workers, volunteer firefighters, companions for the elderly, advocates for those with special needs, and much more. We are proud to recognize and reward them."
Each year General Casualty employees log their volunteer hours to submit with SERVE applications. Every applicant is awarded a certificate and invited to a recognition event with his or her manager. Each region holds its event in February, which is volunteer recognition month at General Casualty. (The Sun Prairie office is hosting a recognition breakfast Feb. 15, 8:30-9:30 a.m.)
Employees who volunteer 50 or more hours the previous year receive $1-per-volunteer-hour SERVE grants, up to $500. Volunteers choose which charitable organizations their grants will go to.
In 2001, employees' participation in the program increased by more than 14 percent. Next year's goal is to increase participation even more by internally advertising group volunteer activities, promoting the program among regional employees and improving communications to recent hires. In addition, a new tool on the company's internal Web site helps employees track their hours throughout the year.
SERVE exemplifies General Casualty's mission statement, which states: "By providing an essential service and committing our time, talents and resources to our community, we make it better place to live, work and play."
For more information please contact Anne M. Smith.