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Connecting Employees to Community
Shell Albian Sands is taking an innovative approach to connecting their employees to the community. They are putting significant energy toward inspiring volunteerism in five different ways.
1. Community Crew – co-chaired by Keith Bergey, Contractor Excellence Manager and Maria Dray, Human Resource Manager, Plant & Engineering, this employee volunteer task force provides a bridge between volunteer opportunities on site and in town with a growing and engaged workforce.
2. Leaders on Boards – Shell has been very successful in connecting their leaders with volunteer board opportunities that maximize their skills for the benefit of the social profit sector and the community.
3. Leadership Wood Buffalo – they aim to have three Shell employees graduate from this community leadership program each year.
4. Community Service Fund – when Shell employees give their time in the community, they are eligible to apply for charitable grants of $500 (20-39 hours) or $1,000 (40+ hours) on behalf of their favourite charities. In the past 5 years, $214,000 has been donated to over 70 social profit organizations through this program.
5. Volunteer Program Support – in addition to sponsoring the volunteer program for major events like the Northern Kick-Off and the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games, Shell aims to provide 10 per cent of the volunteers required, conduct personal safety orientations with all volunteers and host recognition events when the events are over.
Shell also believes that encouraging the heart is fundamental to the process of inspiring volunteerism. They are proud to sponsor the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce “Leader of Tomorrow Award” and the Volunteer Recognition Award in Honour of Bill Bloomfield that is presented each year at the Heart of Wood Buffalo Leadership Awards.
“We are helping change the face of corporate volunteerism,” said Margaret Ziolecki. “Investing dollars in the community is important, but investing time is equally important. This program builds a community impact legacy, celebrates unsung heroes, and encourages connectivity with our community.”
Considering the fact that Shell Albian Sands employees spend 2.5-3 hours commuting every day, it takes an innovative approach and a corporate belief that building a corporate volunteerism culture is not only good for the community, it’s good for business. Listen for more on MIX 103.7 as Shell partners with the radio station to tell the story of volunteerism over the next year and a half.
