How HR Inspires Team Engagement in Social Responsibility

Introduction

In today’s workplace, HR departments and HR corporate social responsibility programs are crucial in supporting employee well-being and fostering a deeper sense of purpose and engagement. While many companies offer benefits like gym memberships or sports cards, these alone are not always enough to keep employees motivated and connected to the company's business goals and company culture. At Mobile Reality and NFT Reality, we believe that work-life balance, physical health, and a strong corporate culture go hand in hand with social responsibility. To engage our team on a deeper level, we wanted to create CSR initiatives that went beyond simply staying active. Some time ago we recognized an opportunity for strategic alignment between physical activity and a cause that would resonate with our team and align with our values. Our goal was to facilitate purpose by inspiring the team to take action that benefited their health and supported a meaningful social cause, all while promoting sustainable practices within our organization.

The role of HR in fostering employee engagement

In a modern, purpose-driven workplace, HR is no longer just about managing processes—it's about cultivating a culture where employees feel connected to the company's values and mission. At Mobile Reality and NFT Reality, we recognize that employee engagement is about more than just offering standard benefits. It's about providing meaningful opportunities for our team to contribute to something larger than themselves, fostering both personal and collective growth. HR professionals play a pivotal role in creating these opportunities and overcoming organizational barriers. By aligning wellness initiatives, corporate philanthropy efforts, and social responsibility programs with broader CSR policies, HR can inspire employees to take action that benefits their well-being and impacts the world around them. Whether it's through sports challenges, community service, or charitable donations, these strategies within organizations allow HR to turn everyday activities into chances for employees to engage more deeply with their work, their team, and the causes that matter to them.

For us, it's about creating a holistic approach where physical health, mental well-being, and social impact are interconnected. Through carefully designed initiatives, HR professionals can bridge the gap between individual motivation and collective responsibility, ensuring that employees feel both supported and inspired to make a difference.

Our sports initiative: more than exercise

When we discovered applications that not only integrate teams and improve physical and health conditions but also contribute to social causes, we knew it was the perfect fit for Mobile Reality and NFT Reality. We had heard about the Activy app before, and as soon as we decided to create a company-wide challenge, Activy became the clear choice. This app allows users to participate in various sports challenges, which can be transformed into real support for charitable causes. For our team, it was obvious that we wanted to combine physical activity with social responsibility, so we chose to support animal welfare by partnering with Viva! Foundation.

How did we get started? We launched a challenge using the Activy app, where participants earned points for activities like running, cycling, and other exercises. The entire Mobile Reality and NFT Reality team was invited to join, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. Activy, a mobile app that rewards physical activity and consistency, allowed employees to track their progress, view reports, and compare performance with teammates. We gave our team the freedom to select activities they enjoyed, whether walking, gym workouts, or cycling. This flexibility and motivation led our top participants to amass nearly 8,000 points, highlighting the strength of team spirit and engagement.

Choosing Social Responsibility Initiatives

When it came time to decide on a cause, we wanted something that would resonate deeply with our team and reflect both our workforce values and CSR objectives, while also demonstrating our public responsibility. Supporting animal welfare felt like a natural choice, so we partnered with the Viva! Foundation. Our goal was simple: encourage the team to stay active, while contributing to a meaningful cause, aligning with ethical business practices.

The results exceeded our expectations. Over just two months, 20 active members of the Mobile Reality and NFT Reality team ran a total of 2,075.4 kilometers and cycled 744.5 kilometers. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we raised 1,000 PLN, which was donated to the Viva! Foundation to support their mission of protecting animals.

We’re proud not only of meeting our financial goal but, more importantly, of engaging our employees in a way that blended fun with purpose. This initiative highlighted the evolving role of HR in promoting both well-being and social impact, showing how teams can rally around meaningful causes that benefit both their well-being and the community.

Using Activy to boost participation and results

We're already planning our next sports challenge for the spring. This time, we aim to broaden our impact by including additional training and support for those most in need. Although we're still in the planning phase, one thing is certain: the competition’s goal will once again align with the values of the Mobile Reality and NFT Reality team, and we’ll continue to use Activy as the core tool for engaging our employees.

We also plan to focus more on mental health, which is becoming increasingly crucial in the context of well-being and work-life balance. We believe that a holistic approach, connecting both physical and mental health, will provide our employees with the support they need to thrive both at work and in their personal lives. That’s why we're exploring tools that can help our team take care of their mental well-being, and Activy offers an exciting solution with its new product—Mindy.

Introducing Mindy: A holistic approach to well-being

Mindy is an app designed to support mental health with features like breathing exercises, mindfulness courses led by certified trainers, and tools for reducing stress, improving productivity, and nurturing relationships. We are currently testing Mindy, and early feedback suggests that it could become a favorite among our team in 2022. By integrating both physical activity and mental wellness into our employee engagement strategy, we’re creating a comprehensive approach that prioritizes both body and mind.

As we continue to evolve our initiatives, our goal remains the same: to empower our team to take care of themselves while making a positive impact on the world around them.

Measuring the impact: results and reflections

Measuring the success of our sports initiative went beyond tracking kilometers and financial donations—it was about understanding the broader impact on employee engagement, well-being, and team spirit. At Mobile Reality and NFT Reality, we used a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate the results.

First, we tracked physical activity data through the Activy app, where employees logged their kilometers for running, cycling, and other exercises. This allowed us to quantify the total distance covered and points earned, which ultimately translated into the amount donated to the Viva! Foundation. But we didn’t stop there. We also gathered feedback from our team, asking them how participating in the challenge affected their motivation, team collaboration, and overall satisfaction. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many team members expressing that the combination of physical activity and a meaningful cause made them feel more connected to both their well-being and the company’s values. This kind of qualitative feedback was crucial in assessing the initiative's long-term benefits beyond the immediate results.

How other companies can measure similar initiatives

For companies looking to implement and measure similar initiatives, there are a few key steps to consider. First, human resources departments can leverage technology like activity-tracking apps to monitor participation and performance, integrating these efforts into broader performance management systems. Set clear goals—both quantitative, such as distance covered or money raised, and qualitative, like improved team cohesion or morale. Gathering employee feedback is essential to understanding how the initiative impacts engagement, well-being, and the overall value proposition offered to employees. It’s also important to track participation throughout the process, not just at the end, to gauge ongoing involvement. Finally, evaluate both the short- and long-term effects on your team, ensuring that the initiative has lasting benefits.

By combining data from tracking tools with employee feedback, companies can gain a holistic view of the initiative’s success and continue to improve their approach to engagement, social responsibility, and performance management.

Looking ahead: Our plans for future engagement

As we plan our next sports challenge and explore new tools like Mindy, we focus on creating initiatives that connect physical and mental well-being with a sense of social responsibility. By aligning these initiatives with our organizational objectives, we aim to engage our team through meaningful activities reflecting our values and a broader sense of purpose. Additionally, while companies have a role in fostering social impact, government responsibility also plays a part in ensuring societal well-being. In summary, our journey has shown that HR-driven initiatives, when aligned with both organizational goals and social causes, can inspire employees to take action that benefits themselves and the world around them. Through thoughtful planning, measurable goals, and a commitment to well-being, companies can build a culture of engagement and lasting social impact.

Exploring the HR Industry: Insights and Innovations

Are you intrigued by the diverse challenges and cutting-edge solutions within the HR industry? At NFT Reality, we're thrilled to share our extensive knowledge and experiences with you. Discover the obstacles we overcome, the strategies that propel us forward, and the innovative ideas we bring to our HR initiatives. Dive into our collection of related articles featured on our blog – a treasure trove of knowledge awaits you:

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