SAFECO: Volunteerism is the Key to Success
By Robert Warne - May 3, 2002Over the years, SAFECO has established an approach to service that has united its employees
and the communities they serve. What the company has found is that an investment
in service to the community reaps benefits that far outweigh the small sacrifice
of time required to render it. The company has also discovered that there is
no other way for employees to develop certain career enhancing characteristics
than through providing service.
Rose Lincoln, SAFECO's assistant vice president of community relations, told
adjustercom.com that adjusters see loss and devastation every day. By volunteering
in the community they are able to turn that around into something positive.
"Giving back at SAFECO has been part of our history and comes naturally
at all levels of the company-it's what we do." The empathy gained from
interacting with claimants as they are set back by loss is the catalyst for
how SAFECO designs its community service programs, said Lincoln.
The company was recently distinguished as one of Business Ethics Magazine's
100 Best Corporate Citizens for its innovative approach to success through community
service.
In its April edition, the magazine devoted an entire article to SAFECO's community
involvement.
At the beginning of the 2002 Major League Baseball season SAFECO launched a
new program called Play Ball. In partnership with its local employees, the company
is donating $1 million to install 62 score boards at youth baseball fields over
the next two years.
May is National Volunteer Month and SAFECO is geared up to educate people about
bicycle safety. "We try to unite employees in a common theme," said
Lincoln. Throughout the month, SAFECO will be hosting bicycle rodeos across
the U.S. including one in Southern California.
Also, through Neighborhood Housing Services, SAFECO employees clean-up neighborhoods
and repair homes in California.
According to Lincoln, they do volunteer work wherever they have employees.
As for commercial claims operations in California, SAFECO's southwest regional
office is in Fountain Valley. There are over 50 workers' compensation claims
professionals managed under the direction of David Standen and Mary Sterton.
Then add in all the other adjusters and claims specialists and one can start
to picture the amount of potential service a single office can provide to the
community.
SAFECO strongly supports and promotes employee volunteerism. Employees are
given paid time off if they volunteer at educational and nonprofit institutions.
The company also matches employees' charitable contributions and will match
an employee's first 25 hours of service with a $250 grant to the charity.
"We use the experiences service gives to develop great employees,"
explained Lincoln.
In Business Ethics Magazine Lincoln said, "We tell employees what's in
it for them-it will not only make them feel good about giving back to the community,
but will also help them learn the kind of skills that will help them succeed
at work."
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