Pfizer releases corporate volunteering report

In conjunction with the Brooking’s Institution’s Initiative on International Volunteering and Service and FSG Social Impact Advisers, Pfizer has released an independent report assessing the status of international corporate volunteering programmes.

The study found that firms are increasingly involved in such initiatives for strategic business purposes, rather than traditional reasons of boosting staff morale and enhancing corporate citizenship.

It also found that such schemes have the best chance of impacting on society when firms best use their corporate resources – including employee skills – for the task, rather than merely reporting volunteer numbers and hours.

Robert Mallett, senior vice-president at Pfizer and president of the Pfizer Foundation, said: “This study affirms the lessons we have learned from operating our own Pfizer Global Health Fellows programme.”

“We know corporate social responsibility goes beyond money and product donations; that corporations must engage on a new, more personal level.”

He added that staff are the best asset of a firm and must be properly deployed to boost value outside the boundaries of a company itself, which benefits society and is also ultimately good for business.

Earlier this month, Pfizer was listed on the Climate Disclosure Leadership by the Carbon Disclosure Project as recognition for work undertaken by the firm to improve the environment.