One of my favorite privileges of helping lead Comfort Research is getting the chance to help innovative charities do good work in the community.
This past week we partnered with i Understand, a local Grand Rapids non-profit organization supporting those who have lost loved ones by suicide or mental illness, on an event we called “Napportunity.” We set up Big Joe bean bag chairs in the middle of downtown and invited people to take a nap in the middle of the workday with the goal of raising $10,000 for i Understand. We had sleep masks, nappetizers (nap + appetizers), and the “World’s Quietest DJ” spinning nature sounds and spa music.
As you can see – it was a hit:
“Do the Right Thing” is one of our three core values not just because it’s ethical, but because it has real benefits for our business. An event like Napportunity helps keep our team engaged at work because it reflects their values. Everyone is more productive when they get a sense of purpose from the work they do.
It also makes the community we live and work in a better place. When people are safe, happy and healthy they are better at whatever role we interact with them in – whether it’s a customer, vendor, or employee.
Another benefit is that recruiting is easier (particularly for the Millennial workforce) when people know that your company is about more than the bottom line. All your competitors offer a paycheck, but not all of them offer a meaningful experiences.
Any company can do this – find out what causes matter to your employees and get creative in finding a way to use your business expertise to make a meaningful contribution.
If you start a project like this, you’ll be amazed by the passion and drive of your team to carry it across the finish line.
