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Randstad’s Month of Heart is a powerful example of how a global company can make a difference on a massive scale. In 2023, Randstad took its Randstad with Heart program to the next level, giving employees around the globe opportunities to dedicate their annual eight paid hours of company-sponsored volunteer time to give back en-mass, sharing stories, causes and activities with their peers. The result? A September filled with meaningful connections, as teams came together to support 128 in-person events in 19 countries—from mentoring and skill-building workshops to environmental clean-ups and community meals.
As Randstad Canada’s consulting partner, Volunteer Canada provided strategic guidance to strengthen the internal communications and employee recognition for Month of Heart. Together, we reviewed Randstad Canada’s plan and developed targeted strategies aimed at inspiring employees to participate, feel connected, and understand the impact of their contributions. By focusing on clear goals, engaging messaging, and accessible volunteer opportunities, our partnership helped Randstad Canada ensure this campaign would resonate deeply across its teams.
Here’s a closer look at how we worked with Randstad Canada to shape a successful Month of Heart and some key insights that contributed to its impact.
Engage, Empower, and Appreciate
Our focus centered on making it easy for employees to participate and feel motivated and appreciated. To achieve this, we developed the “REV” approach—Rebuild & Restore, Enable & Engage, and Validate & Value—to guide the campaign.
- Rebuild & Restore: We encouraged leadership to actively join the Month of Heart, helping to build morale and set an example. Campaign messages emphasized empathy and community support, resonating strongly with employees.
- Enable & Engage: We suggested leveraging toolkits and a log-a-thon challenge to simplify volunteer participation and make tracking hours toward the 3,000-hour goal engaging and achievable.
- Validate & Value: Recognizing the importance of genuine appreciation, we advised on personalized messages and updates to highlight the impact of employees’ contributions, reinforcing the value of their efforts.
Inspiring Connections to Drive Action
We focused on two primary areas to support the Month of Heart campaign: strengthening employee awareness through clear communications and offering effective, low-cost recommendations for volunteer recognition. By honing in on these areas, we aimed to foster an environment where employees felt encouraged to participate and recognized for their contributions.
Our communication strategies included clear calls to action, personalized updates, and leadership messaging—all contributing to excitement and commitment across teams. For volunteer recognition, we provided a range of accessible, low-cost ideas to celebrate employee contributions in ways that felt personal and meaningful. Our recommendations fell into four key areas:
- Heartfelt Thanks: Encouraging Randstad Canada to work with non-profit partners to create a video montage highlighting the impact of employee volunteers, followed by an in-company acknowledgment from senior leadership.
- Hearty Impact: Launching a quiet campaign where employee volunteers could use a customized Zoom background symbolizing their support, sparking conversations about volunteerism within and beyond their teams.
- Open Hearts: Concluding Month of Heart with a story from a non-profit partner organization, inspiring employees to stay engaged in volunteerism throughout the year.
- Hearts & Minds: Partnering with HR to incorporate skills-based volunteerism (SBV) into professional development conversations, demonstrating how volunteering can enhance skills and create growth opportunities for high-potential employees.
These recommendations provided simple yet powerful ways for Randstad Canada to celebrate employees’ volunteer efforts, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and community involvement.
Our Shared Purpose
The Month of Heart campaign reflected Randstad’s dedication to community service and employee engagement, brought to life through thoughtful planning, targeted communication, and meaningful recognition. Through collaboration, Volunteer Canada supported Randstad Canada in creating a campaign that resonated across teams, inspired thousands of hours in volunteer contributions, and reinforced a workplace culture rooted in service and connection.
Volunteer Canada is proud to have assisted Randstad Canada’s vision with strategies that helped bring Month of Heart to its full potential. If you’re interested in enhancing your company’s volunteer programs or building a culture of service through impactful employer-led initiatives, reach out to Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Citizenship team to learn how we can assist with your goals.
