Your company values are more important than ever, not just to your clients but to your staff and future employees.

We all know that a company’s values matter to clients, as they provide a deeper, values-led connection beyond commercial terms; further, values are increasingly important to both existing and future employees, especially those from Gen Z (born 1997–2012).

More than any previous generation, Gen Z see Core Values and the ethics behind them as a key part of who they are and who they work for, not just as meaningful words.  Gen Z needs to see them in effect and having a direct impact, particularly on society and the planet.

For a company embracing ethical practices and demonstrating clear CSR impact, its Gen Z employees develop a sense of belonging, stay longer and have greater impact, becoming brand ambassadors due to the way that they engage online.

Corporate Events For Good and its Founder, Nev Leaning, know only too well the importance of positive social impact for Gen Z, from the events they have delivered.  

Commenting about Gen Z’s focus, Nev Said, ”There is no doubt that there has been a big shift towards focusing on events which have a positive social impact beyond that of getting a group of colleagues together and strengthening their bond. Event output that benefits the disadvantaged, in particular the homeless and the young, has exploded in recent years, and it feels great to see and be involved with.  At CEFG, we have created a wide range of team-building events that achieve this."

It’s not just companies like CEFG that have experienced this trend.  Leading recruitment specialists such as Juice Recruitment have also noticed this positive shift in candidate and employee requirements.  

Emma Summers, Founder and CEO at Juice shared this insight. “It has become clear that candidates, particularly from Gen Z, are seeking companies which reflect their own values.  It’s one of the key questions we are now asked during initial conversations with candidates, and it's reflected in the feedback we provide to our clients. It’s clear to see that employers who demonstrate a strong CSR focus are more appealing to new candidates and benefit from improved retention.  As a result of this requirement from Gen Z, we are also seeing an increased focus from longer-serving employees who are reviewing what’s important to them.”

Whether your focus is on recruitment, team-building, retention or all three, there’s no question that having a positive CSR impact at the core of your values will help to achieve your goals.