Here's a surprising way to keep your employees happy

Competitive pay. Great benefits. Free massages, Ping-Pong tables, and nap stations. For years, we've heard about the luxurious amenities companies invest in to keep employees happy and productive. But as much as workers appreciate perks, they also love the chance to give back. As it turns out, a great way to retain employees is to keep them engaged with their community.

According to a survey from Cone Communications, corporate social responsibility affects 78% of millennials' decisions about where to work. And helping employees get involved in a charitable event with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, can be as much of a perk as vacation time and those Ping-Pong tables. A UnitedHealth Group and the Optum Institute study found that volunteering can make people feel physically and emotionally better.

Here are four ways to keep employees engaged through charitable efforts:

1. Facilitate volunteerism.

Employees feel great about themselves when they volunteer- but finding the time to do so can be tough. Reserve time during regular work hours for employees to get into the community and donate their time to a cause. Invite them to spend an extra long lunch break serving at a soup kitchen, or leave the office a few hours early to sort donations for a local charity.

2. Reward community engagement.

Some employers go a step further, rewarding their staff with paid time off for hours spent volunteering. Technology company Blackbaud has a Volunteer for Vacation policy, which allows employees to earn eight hours of paid leave for every 16 hours of volunteer time. Each worker can earn up to three extra vacation days a year.

3. Empower employee giving.

Don't just tell workers where their employer's charitable donations are going; let them help decide. Some companies ask employees to weigh in on which organizations corporate donations will support, while others give each worker a set amount to donate to the charity of their choice. And that choice matters. According to an America's Charities report,employee participation in giving increases when they are allowed to choose a charity to support.

4. Partner with nonprofits.

Nonprofits are in constant need of different volunteers with a variety of skill sets, and employers who want to engage their employees are always looking for volunteer opportunities. An ongoing relationship with a nonprofit allows a company to fill both of those needs. For example, corporations such as Chevrolet and General Motors have engaged their employees and dealerships to work with the American Cancer Society to form walk teams for Society events, such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Giving employees fancy perks certainly helps them feel taken care of by their company. But providing them with opportunities to take care of their community can create even deeper satisfaction with their workplace. And that's a plus for both employers and their communities.

Get your company involved in the Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks.

This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Find out more about Sponsored Content.

Follow BI Studios on Twitter and Facebook.