A|E|C Industry insights

The Intersection of Business & Civic Engagement

As members of the built environment, architects and engineers have the unique and critical responsibility of designing and building our nation’s communities. As community creators, it is vital that industry professionals push themselves to serve as stewards of civic engagement to holistically and effectively support these communities in which they design and live.

The responsibility to get more involved within the community should not fall on the shoulders of the employees alone; employers have a particular obligation to their people and the general public to foster civic engagement. Historically, corporate political involvement has been perceived as a controversial decision, specifically when companies endorse individual candidates. However, encouraging employees to be civically engaged has been proven to have many lasting benefits.

Not only does robust civic engagement lead to lower rates of unemployment and a strengthened democracy, but it also has profound implications on employee and employer relations. Studies show that employers with substantial “Corporate Social Responsibility” portfolios see increases in employee productivity, engagement, morale, and retention. In addition, CSR has been crucial in attracting millennial talent, 79 % of whom stated that they want to work for companies that care about how they impact and contribute to society.

Many companies have already taken great strides towards encouraging civic engagement for all. The Time to Vote Initiative, catalyzed by the former CEO of Patagonia, Rose Marcario, has already received more than 1,500 pledges by companies in the US who have agreed to encourage civic engagement across their workforce. Many of the companies listed are from the built environment, including Runberg Architecture Group, ATA Beilharz Architects, Blank Studio Design + Architecture, and Lowe Engineers.

As consultants, we know that every organization has different needs and varying access to capital and resources; civic engagement does not have a one size fits all approach. Below are some flexible options that organizations of different sizes can take to help galvanize voters:

Offer PTO or Floating Paid Hours on November 3rd:

Even though we spend two years each presidential cycle campaigning and injecting billions of dollars towards the election, Election Day is still not a federal holiday. Balancing childcare and family obligations with work during the age of Covid-19 has been a challenging task. These added pressures make voting on election day even more difficult. Offering PTO on Election Day provides people with the ease of mind to exercise their voting rights without worrying about financial consequences. If a company is not in the economic situation to offer the whole day off, offer each employee a floating 2-hour block of paid time to drop their ballots off or vote in person. Employers can even take it a step further and pay for transportation to and from the polls. Lastly, at the very least, companies should make it a point not to have any critical meetings scheduled on November 3rd.

Provide Voting Information & Resources:

There is a myriad of contradicting and ambiguous information on voter registration deadlines and voting options available online. Employers can help alleviate the confusion and serve as a guiding light to their employees by providing them with up-to-date information on their voting options, deadlines, and registration resources in their municipalities. These cost-effective strategies are quite effective at increasing turnout and can be as easy as sending out a well-informed email.

Donate Supplies:

Election polling places are in desperate need of a wide array of supplies, including personal protective equipment. Companies that have an excess of office supplies or PPE can make a significant impact by donating. In addition, even with record amounts of people voting early and by mail, lengthy lines are expected on November 3rd. Companies can donate PPE equipment, snacks, chairs, or water bottles for those expected to wait for long periods.

Provide PTO for Polling Place Volunteers:

Traditionally, most poll workers are older individuals who are at higher risk of having life-threatening complications due to Covid-19. In fact, during the 2018 general election, 58 % of poll workers were over the age of 60. Due to the fear of contracting Covid-19, many veteran poll workers are declining to volunteer this year. Companies can help remedy this shortage by inviting their low-risk employees to take the day off to volunteer as poll workers and offering PTO and PPE for those of whom who can.

While these measures are all specific to the upcoming election, civic engagement initiatives should not end on November 3rd. The AIA’s Blueprint For Better Campaign lays out many measures that architectural professionals can take to position themselves as community leaders and advocates.

Civic engagement is a necessary and vibrant initiative that ought to be introduced to a company’s CSR portfolio. Not only are these initiatives imperative for promoting a more accessible and inclusive democracy, but they also lead to a more engaged and fulfilled workforce. When the people who make up the built environment are more civically active and engaged, they are better able to understand and predict the needs of the communities they design. This understanding is paramount in designing a more efficient, inclusive, and democratic society.

Sources:

-https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2020/09/09/490167/17-ways-companies-can-help-americans-vote-safely/