When it comes to encouraging employees to contribute to their communities, PAETEC is walking the talk.
The Perinton-based communications firm last week hosted its first Volunteer Fair to give employees an opportunity to find a local organization to serve.
“One of the key drivers of our philanthropy is to keep the decision-making local and employee-led, rather than through a centralized, corporate department,” said Arunas Chesonis, PAETEC’s chairman and CEO. “As a result, PAETEC is able to help hundreds of organizations nationwide, both through volunteer support and director funding.”
Chris Muller, PAETEC’s director of communications, said each of the company’s 3,700 employees, including about 800 in the Rochester area, are given four paid hours a month to volunteer for a charity.
“One of our core values is ‘Caring Culture,’ and it’s a recognition that we exist for more than our customers and shareholders, but also for the communities where we live,” Muller said. “We tend to be very philanthropic. Our employees are constantly looking for things they can do to help the community.”
He said it’s all part of what led to the company recently having been named, for the second year in a row, as one of the Top 10 Best Companies to Work for in New York State, by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management.
“This is one of the things that makes it great to be a PAETEC employee,” Muller said. “It’s not just about the everyday getting-through-the-work week. It’s how we help our friends and neighbors and organizations we feel most passionate about.”
He said Randi Rhinehart, a quality assurance engineer in PAETEC’s Pinnacle Software Division, came up with the concept of inviting charities to visit the company and talk to employees about their needs and volunteer opportunities. She’s in charge of the local PAETEC Community Service Committee.
“I think it worked out very well,” Muller said. “The charities now have a new base of volunteers they can go to.”
Rhinehart was able to get 18 local charities to participate in the inaugural event. Muller said more than 200 employees participated.
“At PAETEC, employees are encouraged to get out in the community and get involved,” said Rhinehart. “The Volunteer Fair gave employees an opportunity to talk to a wide variety of not-for-profit organizations and discover many different avenues for giving back to the community by volunteering. The agencies got to meet a lot of PAETEC employees with all kinds of different interests, talents and enthusiasm. It was a win-win event.”
