Synopsys Shares Program Offers Freedom and Flexibility to Drive Employee Engagement in Local Communities
Synopsys Inc., a leading innovator in the global electronics market, empowers employees to organize and participate in volunteer projects that match their individual interests and giving priorities. Through its Synopsys Shares program, the company maximizes its positive societal impact while supporting the diverse passions of its employees by granting them the flexibility to choose activities that closely align with their values and the needs of the local community. Megan McDow, community affairs manager, answered a few questions about the program.
What is the Synopsys Shares program?
The Synopsys Shares program maximizes our community affairs efforts by harnessing the creative energy of our employees. Employees are encouraged to organize volunteer projects and giving campaigns as well as participate in the employee matching gift program, allowing them to have a greater positive impact on the communities where they live and work.
How is it managed internally?
The overarching program is managed by the Community Affairs department out of our U.S. headquarters in Mountain View, CA. At each of our larger offices, the Synopsys Shares program is managed by employee-led Corporate Giving Committees. The committees plan and coordinate Synopsys-sponsored community activities for local employees.
In what ways can employees get involved in their local communities?
We encourage employees, along with their family and friends, to volunteer individually for their favorite charity and/or participate in a Synopsys-sponsored volunteer activity or giving drive. Synopsys-sponsored activities are group activities that vary in size. Events can involve as little as 10 people, or occasionally, as many as 500. Typical activities include blood drives, clean-ups (beach, park, etc.), science fair judging, and goods drives (food, clothes, toys, backpacks, etc.). We only require that the benefitting charity be non-discriminatory.
Synopsys-sponsored activities are organized by a Corporate Giving Leader or Committee. That person or team is responsible for informing corporate Community Affairs of the project, identifying the benefitting non-profit, and coordinating the specifics, such as dates, tasks, and times. The team leader is also responsible for promoting the project internally through the use of email, posters, cafeteria tabling, and more, as well as entering the project in our online system so employees can pre-register and then log their volunteer hours after the event.
