Unitil has a longstanding commitment to community involvement and support, and nothing illustrates this better than our employees, who truly embody the belief that bettering our world is integral to our success as individuals and as a company. Coupled with our corporate commitment to improving our workplace culture and supporting the communities we serve, together we create an environment that encourages engagement and giving back.
Going Above and Beyond:
A Culture of Internal and External Community Support
Our employees are passionate about volunteering with local community organizations in support of causes that are important to them, with initiatives that are both company-driven and employee-led. Unitil employees log more than 700 hours (the equivalent of over 88 workdays!) of volunteer time each year.
Many Unitil employees participate in United Way’s Annual Day of Caring by volunteering in local community initiatives. In 2022, Unitil employees joined over 500 area volunteers to participate in the 27th Annual Day of Caring throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Massachusetts volunteers worked to clean, organize, and paint at the Westminster Historical Society and Clear Path for Veterans, and helped rake and clear brush in Gardner. The New Hampshire team participated in their first-ever beach cleanup, which was overseen by the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Working with other area volunteers, more than 5,000 individual pieces of trash (over 50 pounds!) were collected from Hampton Beach. The human resources department organized their own day of service, spending time building a home for a veteran and his family with Habitat for Humanity.
Did You Know? The average tenure among Unitil employees is more than 11 years.
Unitil’s longstanding partnership with the United Way is focused on building stronger, more sustainable communities by tackling the issues our children, youth, and families face every day. Our employees give generously through the annual workplace campaign to improve the lives of those who live in the communities we serve. In 2023, Unitil employees pledged over $36,000 to local United Way chapters. The money raised during this campaign supports a strong network of quality nonprofits and services to help change lives in the communities we serve.
Employee-led initiatives include holiday toy drives and the collection and distribution of pet food and supplies for local animal shelters, while “Thankful Turkeys” offer an informal way for employees to recognize each other with kudos and shout-outs for a job well done.
How Unitil Supports Employee Efforts
Supporting our employees’ volunteerism in a variety of nonprofit projects is a cornerstone of our social commitment. As part of their compensation package, full-time employees are entitled to eight hours of paid time off annually to participate in community service activities during normal work hours.
A healthy, productive environment for our employees is paramount in building this culture of support. To that end, Unitil established a 15-member Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, tasked with ensuring these important concepts are woven deeply into the fabric of our corporate culture. In 2022, Unitil launched its first employee resource group (ERG), focused specifically on the empowerment of women in the utility industry.
Unitil further demonstrates its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through the expansion of recruitment channels to specifically target veterans, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, among others. The vigilant monitoring of equitable hiring practices will ensure that we remain competitive within our industry and market.
Each Unitil location has its own initiatives for celebrating its employees, whether it’s a pumpkin decorating contest, themed team-building activities such as Fall Flannel Friday, or Customer Service Week, during which the company recognizes those employees who represent Unitil in delivering superior service to our customers.
As an organization, Unitil strives to support nonprofit organizations and initiatives that work to improve the overall quality of life in the communities we serve. Our community programs range from small, short-term support initiatives to long-term partnerships, with an emphasis on educational initiatives, emergency response events/groups, human service programs, and local community giving projects.
Key Takeaways
- Unitil’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a natural extension of our RISE values of Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, and Excellence.
- Corporate community initiatives range from one-time volunteer opportunities and college scholarships to improving the quality of life for its employees.
- Unitil employees report a high level of job satisfaction, with more than 90% reporting that they are proud to work for the company.
