Leading Australian Companies JB Hi-Fi and SEEK Call on Businesses to Support Workplace Giving

Andrew Bassat, CEO and Co-Founder, SEEK and Richard Murray, Group CEO, JB Hi-Fi Limited were winners of inaugural Workplace Giving Excellence (WPG) Awards in 2016.  The Awards, an important part of the One Million Donors campaign to grow WPG, celebrated those employers who enable staff to donate to charity direct from their pay.  Beyond the benefits to charities and the community, WPG is assisting these business leaders build more engaged, inclusive cultures.

“JB Hi-Fi introduced WPG in 2008 as our commitment to the community.  It has delivered even more than we hoped with 72% of our staff giving each week to support our charity partners through our ‘Helping Hands’ program” said Richard Murray, Group CEO of JB Hi-Fi.  “We’ve generated more than $12m for our charity partners through Helping Hands.  This has only been possible because staff feel so connected to our charity partners and the great work they do using the funds that we have raised.”

Whilst Murray is proud of JB Hi-Fi’s 2016 Gold Winner Award, he would be equally delighted to hand over the baton to another company this year.  “I encourage all businesses to nominate.”

SEEK Co-Founder and CEO, Andrew Bassat, said “SEEK’s workplace giving program ‘Small Change’ is a tangible way for SEEK employees to connect with our primary Belief of having a positive impact on society. Helping our ten partner charities is very motivating and rewarding for our employees and this is reflected in our strong participation rate. We are proud to match employee contributions dollar for dollar to increase the impact our employees have on the causes these organisations support.”

WPG (also known as pre-tax payroll giving) allows employees to make donations to charity direct from their pay.  Some employers extend their teams’ contribution and match the value of their donations.  Many employers enhance their giving programs with volunteering, fundraising events and other initiatives.

Since 2002, WPG has raised more than a quarter of a billion dollars of new funding for charities.  The Australian Charities Fund (ACF) is the champion of WPG, and along with committed business leaders, has set the bold goal of One Million Australians donating through the workplace by 2020 – which would create an additional $250 million each year for the community.
Jenny Geddes, ACF’s CEO said, “The One Million Donors campaign is so important to our society and to charities all over Australia that need sustained funding to achieve their goals and deliver social change.  The Awards shine a light on business leaders and their employees that together, help our society in so many ways.  For charities, WPG continues to be one of the most efficient, effective and ethical ways to raise much needed funding.”