Empowering Workplaces for a Stronger America

Turn your workplace into a spot where EVERYONE, no matter their political beliefs, social stances, or strong opinions, can easily engage in civic activities. By encouraging active involvement in our democracy, you relay the message that all employees, customers, and community members are welcomed and valued. This culture of openness and respect leads to significant benefits for you, your organization, and our country.

What is Workplace Civic Responsibility?

An employer’s right and duty to equip their workforce and other stakeholders with the knowledge and support needed to actively shape local communities and our nation.

Civics Defined

Civics is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. Stemming from the Latin word civicus, it refers to the rights and duties “relating to a citizen” and encompasses behaviors that contribute positively to the greater good. Here are some key civic actions and behaviors you can take to improve the well-being of your community and country:

  • Understand how your local, state and federal government works

  • Regularly participate in key election activities, including researching candidates and ballot items, voting, and poll working

  • Actively shape policy through respectful discussions, advocating for specific legislation, and speaking up for important issues

  • Volunteer and contributing financially to local and national initiatives

  • Pay taxes to support public services like education, healthcare and infrastructure

  • Respect and follow laws and, when summoned, serve on jury duty

While ultimately it’s up to individuals to be good citizens, employers have the power and responsibility to educate and empower their employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders.

Role of Employers

Workplace civic responsibility (WCR) is the idea that businesses should use their influence to promote civic engagement and support democracy among their employees, customers, and communities. This effort goes beyond and is the foundation of traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR), which focuses on businesses' environmental, social, and economic impacts.

WCR recognizes that all employers have a stake and a role in the health and functioning of the political and civic systems. Some examples of WCR activities include: encouraging voter registration and turnout, supporting civic education and literacy, advocating for policies that align with the public good, and fostering civil discourse and dialogue. WCR can benefit organizations by enhancing their reputation, loyalty, and engagement with their employees, customers, and communities.

The Impact

The impact of building a more informed and active electorate can’t be understated. On a macro scale, it leads to a more stable government and engaged electorate, reducing the cost of capital and increasing innovation. On an organizational level, employers that promote civic responsibility through creative events like our “Turn Out for Tacos,” voter mobilization effort see measurable improvements in customer loyalty, employee retention, and brand sentiment.

IGCI’s Resources for Employers

Turn your workplace into a trusted source of reliable, nonpartisan election information and a center for civic participation with our resources and programs.

  • Education

    Civic education is the key to tackling big issues like polarization, misinformation, and voter disengagement.

    We have the nonpartisan trainings to turn your workplace into a trusted source of reliable information. Topics include: voting 101, nonpartisan ballot deep dives, corporate political responsibility, and more.

  • Enablement

    Once informed, you can foster a more engaged and active citizenry that elects a representative government, shapes public policies, and holds officials accountable.

    We have a wide range of resources, tools, events, and services to encourage voter registration and turnout; create policies that support community involvement; and create environments for healthy civic discussions.

  • Evaluation

    We help you meticulously track your civic engagement efforts. This crucial step not only benchmarks your workforce contributions to our democracy but also provides IGCI with valuable data used to inspire future involvement and drive continuous improvement.

What’s in it for Your Organization?

Fostering an environment where civic duties are valued can enhance your organization's reputation as a civic-minded entity, positively impacting your relationships.

  • Reduce Risks Associated with Partisan Positions

    94% of C-Suite executives surveyed by E&Y reported feeling the impact of unexpected political risks.

    Taking a stand on a specific cause, particularly if it's not closely related to your organization's core mission, can create a divide among your employees and customers. This rift poses various risks, such as negative PR, consumer boycotts, employee attrition, and political retaliation.

    A solution is to make it easy for people to get the support needed to engage as knowledgeable citizens, while sidestepping the pitfalls of divisive debates.

  • Create Cohesive Teams...Without Mandatory Training

    Civic engagement exposes your employees to the unique perspectives, beliefs, opinions, and cultures of colleagues. By ensuring everyone feels comfortable sharing their views without the fear of backlash or discrimination, you will promote greater understanding within your team.

    This step can authentically create a more united workplace and foster a culture of inclusivity and respect — key components of a truly cohesive team.

    And let’s face it, we’re all bored of the lame corporate quizzes.

  • Hire and Keep Happier Employees

    Most employees feel proud to be part of an organization that contributes positively to society. By educating and empowering your teams to meaningfully participate in key activities like voting or working the polls, you can easily boost morale and increase job satisfaction.

    Such initiatives underscore your organization's commitment to societal well-being. Making employees feel part of something larger than themselves can significantly enhance their workplace engagement, productivity, and long-term loyaty.

  • Build a Better Brand

    By actively promoting voting, you can improve your organization’s reputation not only among employees, but also with recruits, customers, partners, investors, and other stakeholders who value representative, self-government.

    This initiative not only demonstrates corporate social responsibility but also aligns your brand with the values of democracy and community engagement, enhancing your reputation.

  • Deepen Customer Relationships

    Providing resources on how to register to vote, understand ballot issues, and recognize the impact of their vote encourages a more active and informed community, deepening their trust and loyalty to your organization. 81% are more likely to buy from org that promotes civic participation

    These simple steps can lead to positive social change, and both directly and indirectly benefit your business.

  • Advance Your Career

    Civic engagement opportunities allow employees to develop new skills, such as leadership, project management, and communication. Engaging in these activities not only contributes to personal and professional growth but also positions your organization as a leader in fostering community involvement and employee development, attracting top talent and retaining high performers.

What’s in it for Our Country?

Building a stronger America mirrors the process of constructing a building — it all begins with a solid foundation.

There's an interconnected relationship between a steady government, a booming economy, and a flourishing society. When the government functions well, it sets the stage for businesses to grow and for people to live better lives. When all these things work together, they create a stronger, happier, and more prosperous America.

The Power of Education and Voting

Civics education and voting are foundational to the strength and sustainability of democracy in America.

With IGCI’s civics education resources, we equip your employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in democratic processes, understanding their rights and responsibilities, and the importance of the rule of law. It fosters informed decision-making and critical thinking, enabling your staff to critically evaluate issues, candidates, and policies.

Voting, on the other hand, is the most direct way for your employees to influence government and policy decisions. It ensures that elected officials represent their constituents. It also holds politicians, judges, and others accountable for their actions and decisions.

By using IGCI tools, you can build a vibrant, participatory democracy where your employees are empowered to shape our future and contribute to a more informed, engaged, and cohesive society.

  • Government Stability

    A consistent and predictable government structure, characterized by consistent policy-making, low levels of corruption, the ability to enforce contracts and protect property rights, and the rule of law, impacts the economy and society.

    Impact on Economic Growth: A stable government fosters a favorable environment for both domestic and foreign investments. Investors are more likely to invest in a country where they believe their assets are secure, and where they can predict the future regulatory environment.

    Impact on Societal Improvements: A stable government can effectively implement policies that benefit public health, education, and welfare. It can also ensure safety and security, leading to enhanced trust among its citizens.

  • Economic Growth

    Economic growth is an increase in the production of goods and services over a specific period, often measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Impact on Government Stability: Economic growth can legitimize a government in the eyes of its citizens, making it less prone to upheavals. It can also provide the government with increased revenues through taxes, allowing it to invest further in public goods and services.

    Impact on Societal Improvements: Economic growth typically leads to higher incomes, improved standards of living, and increased access to education, healthcare, and other services. This can result in better health outcomes, higher literacy rates, and reduced poverty.

  • Societal Improvements

    Societal improvements indicate the overall well-being of a community, including measurements in health, education, safety, equality, and other indicators of quality of life.

    Impact on Government Stability: A society that sees regular improvements in quality of life is more likely to have faith in its government and its institutions, leading to greater social cohesion and less civil unrest.

    Impact on Economic Growth: A healthy, educated, and secure population is more productive and can contribute more effectively to economic activities. An improved society can also attract foreign investments, as businesses seek stable and skilled labor forces and lucrative markets.

Addressing Inequities in Civics

In a country as big and diverse as ours, it’s important to recognize not all residents can participate in civics equally. The challenges stemming from a lack of comprehensive civics education impact different communities in different ways. If not addressed with an inclusive lens, there is a potential to exacerbate existing inequalities and hinder our country’s ability to solve problems collectively.

While some communities have ample resources to seek out information and actively participate in politics, others struggle. For example, the intricacies of America’s electoral system can be daunting, especially for new voters, immigrants, or those with limited English proficiency. This challenge is compounded by frequent changes in voting regulations, which may leave residents unaware of current requirements or procedures, risking unintentional disenfranchisement. A lack of workplace support for voting can also disproportionately affect certain employee groups, including shift workers who find regular polling hours inconvenient; low-income workers who have less flexibility in their schedules, and caregivers who find it challenging to allocate time to vote.

IGCI promises to take the experiences and needs of various communities in mind as we expand our programs.

Join and Support IGCI before the 2024 Election

Get an Immediate Return on Your Philanthropic Investment

Donating to IGCI provides immediate and tangible benefits. Not only will you get access to our world-class civic engagement resources, your support sends a powerful message about your values and commitment to societal betterment. In essence, your contribution helps forge a stronger connection between your workplace, community and the government, creating a ripple effect of goodwill and positive impact.