SPRING 2022 3 SOLUTIONS To be a strong community partner, your company needs to foster a spirit of volunteerism among employees. If you’re experiencing challenges with getting employees to participate in volunteer activities, consider these ideas: Provide paid time off for volunteering. This approach does two important things. First, it communicates to employees—and to customers and community members—that your company is truly committed to giving back. It also allows employees to volunteer without always having to use their personal time to do so. The amount of paid time off for volunteering doesn’t need to be huge. Even one workday per year per employee, when spent doing good work in the community, can lead to valuable results. Give employees the autonomy to give back in ways meaningful to them. Instead of micromanaging every act of giving, allow employees flexibility to come up with their own ways to help the community. Perhaps some employees will want to put together toiletry bags for the homeless, pick up trash at a park, read to children at an elementary school, or organize a drive to collect food, clothing, or toys. Others may want to set up regular visits to a senior facility to spend time with residents who don’t have nearby family. Whatever the volunteer projects, they provide excellent opportunities for employees to build skills by taking initiative, managing activities, and strengthening relationships with coworkers and neighbors. Make sure your leadership sets a good example. Everyone has a role to play in order for your company’s volunteer goals to be met. When your CEO marches in the local parade or your HR Manager sets up the company booth at the county fair, it encourages employees to also sign up to participate in these types of community events. In addition, it reinforces your company’s deep commitment to making a difference. Panora Telco and Guthrie Center Communications are proud of our volunteer work. Follow us on Facebook to see how we’re lending a hand in our community throughout the year. WHO’S MINDING YOUR BUSINESS? Cheryl Castile Customer Service Representative Cheryl Castile is a long-time employee, having joined Panora Telco in 1983. As Customer Service Representative, Castile answers questions from subscribers regarding their services or billing, processes bill payments, creates service orders and trouble tickets for our technicians, and schedules appointments. “Since I’ll be retiring at the end of 2022, this is a perfect opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Panora Telco. It’s been my privilege to come to work all these years. Although I’m looking forward to retirement, there are many things I will miss about Panora Telco. My husband Gordon may also miss me going to work sometimes. It’s been a great ride,” Castile said. She added, “My family, faith, and community are important parts of my life. I’m blessed to have been married to Gordon for over 60 years. Our son Brian, daughter-in-law Beth, four grandchildren, and great-grandson always bring me so much joy.” Encourage Your Employees to Give Back
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