Corporate volunteers: Super special and grateful!

a few weeks ago, employees of Personio, a young international HR software company, provided lunch for the cleaning crew of Het Koffiehuis on Haarlemmerstraat. This is a place where everyone is welcome. Undocumented individuals and the homeless can drink coffee and also work there to earn a little money. They do this, among other things, in the ‘Veegploeg’. This team ensures that the streets in the city center remain clean. After work, they always receive a free lunch at the Koffiehuis.

And now it was the turn of the employees of Personio. This company feels a social responsibility to contribute to society and translates that into action. They give employees the opportunity to do volunteer work during working hours. Therefore, they have signed up withBusiness Involved Amsterdam,a joint project of VCA to connect companies with social organizations, among other things by deploying employees for volunteer work.

Cooking for the cleaning crew of the Coffee House

Rachida el Alami, the VCA project leader ofBusiness involvedPersonio brought in contact with the Coffee House where a number of employees volunteered. On this Impact Day, they prepared lunch for the employees of the ‘Cleaning Crew’. It was a day of grocery shopping, stirring in pots and pans, serving, scrubbing pans, and finally leaving the kitchen sparkling clean. The employees of Personio were very much entrusted with this task. As if they did this daily, the (warm) lunch was ready on time, and people could sit at the table, be served, receive their portions, have a chat, and it turned into a pleasant afternoon.Because at Personio the working language is English, just like with the homeless and undocumented individuals, the communication went very smoothly and naturally. One of the goals of Personio’s Impact Day was ‘to give employees a pleasant experience that enriches them and inspires other employees and companies to engage socially as well.’ That certainly succeeded! Not only were the employees of Personio, but also those of the Coffee House, more than satisfied with this collaboration.

Got the taste for it

Both parties have caught the taste. Together withBusiness InvolvedPersonio is looking into more initiatives where other employees can get involved, and at the Koffiehuis, the next group of company volunteers is eager to get started. Soon, two more groups of company volunteers will begin their work.

Also deploy company volunteers?

Contact our Organizational Advisor Rachida el Alami or our Business Advisor Eva Bouwer.Julia:“I am grateful that we were allowed to do this. I had no expectations for this day. I did hope for a special experience. That it is special is certain. It is so beautiful to dedicate yourself to a group of people you don’t encounter on a daily basis.” 

Justin“My role as an amateur cook today was special and I enjoyed it. Normally, I spend a weekday in the office and move from one (digital) meeting to another. To be able to do this is very special and I would definitely like to do it more often.”