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Mitch Solomon, CEO of market research firm VDC Research, has more than endorsed his employees volunteering in their community; he is providing company time for them to do so.
As part of an effort to make a positive impact on the company's surrounding Natick, MA community, employees of VDC Research spend two hours per week of office time playing with, reading to, mentoring and encouraging young children in homeless shelters through Horizons for Homeless Children's (HHC) Playspace Programs.
HHC's Playspace Programs offered an ideal venue for VDC Research's volunteering goals of directly serving a local population through a consistent, long-term commitment.
"We wanted to do something other than just donating money. It was important that we be involved with people and to help them directly," Solomon said. "We thought the experience of working closely with children would be particularly valuable and inspiring."
Solomon insists that, for several reasons, allowing employees to use company hours for community service has a high return on investment. However, Solomon admits there was concern at first about devoting work hours to child's play.
"Initially we had several concerns. Would there be an impact on productivity? Would our staff enjoy the experience? Could we live-up to the six month weekly commitment? Ultimately, none of our concerns were realized, and the experience has been a positive one in every respect."
After years of simply donating money, Solomon felt that a weekly offering of time and attention to children in need of both was ultimately a more rewarding experience. While the company does make donations to other non-profits, Solomon recognized the inherently greater rewards that come from volunteering your time.
"Of course, it's much easier to write a check. But the easier something is to do, often the less you get out of it. We wanted to invest our time, because you make the most impact and get the most reward."
To facilitate his employees' volunteering experience, and to affirm that service to the larger community is a real priority at VDC Research, Solomon offers two work-week hours to each employee for volunteering with HHC, as well as for the mandatory 6 hours of volunteer training.
 Employees, as well as Solomon himself, have now been volunteering in nearby Framingham Playspaces for several months. Solomon said the two hours per week has not hurt productivity, but has instead created a sense of camaraderie among the staff. (Pictured left is Michelle Mandell, VDC Research employee and PAL. Photo courtesy of Ken McGagh, MetroWest Daily News.)
"Two hours over the course of 40-plus hours per week is really not a problem. I haven't heard anyone say 'this is stressful, I can't get my work done,'" Solomon said. "In fact, because the employees volunteer in pairs, there is a great team-building aspect to it. They build experiences together other than just working, and I hope that makes them feel more connected to VDC."
It is arguably the children at the Playspaces, however, who are reaping the largest rewards.
"The kids just thrive on the attention," Solomon said. "They clearly enjoy and need that type of free play with someone who's there to focus on them and enable their fun. When my partner and I arrive each week, we get big hugs. And when we have to return to work, we have kids clinging to us and trying to convince us to stay. It's a special feeling when you know they're attached to you and get so much pleasure from the experience."
Ultimately, Solomon hopes VDC Research's commitment to the young homeless children of Massachusetts will result in happier employees giving back to a healthier community.
"I think that community service is absolutely an important part of a corporate culture. We're part of a larger community and we need to remind ourselves of our own good fortune," Solomon said. "And really, employees should know that we're about more than making a profit."
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