Hypertherm Expands Volunteer Program

Hypertherm Inc. (Hanover, NH), a U.S.-based manufacturer of plasma, laser, and waterjet cutting systems, has announced an expansion of their Community Service Time (CST) program for 2017 that increases volunteer time from 24 to 32 hours, providing all associates with an additional eight hours of paid time off each year to volunteer in their community.

The company envisions the expanded hours helping their associates dedicate more time to volunteer jobs that require a fairly substantial time commitment, such as coaching, mentoring, and tutoring. This will also help nonprofits who have trouble finding volunteers be able to make a regular weekly or monthly commitment, and nonprofits who need help during non-traditional hours.

“We are excited to offer this expanded benefit to all our associates, many of whom already serve in excess of 24 hours a year,” said Jenny Levy, their vice-president of corporate social responsibility. “By expanding our investment in CST, our hope is that more associates can make recurring volunteer commitments, deepening their effectiveness at the organizations in which they serve.”

Launched in 2003, this program has grown from an initial 16 hours per associate partly because the company has found that the program benefits both the community and their associates, who return to work more energized and engaged. Today more than 80 percent of their global associate population volunteers for CST, serving an average of 15.5 hours a year. That amounts to more than 18,000 combined hours through 2016 and nearly 100,000 hours since the program’s inception.

The CST program is one part of Hypertherm’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. In addition to volunteer time, they also award thousands of dollars in grants through their HOPE Foundation, and have ambitious environmental stewardship goals that include producing more efficient products and zero landfill waste by 2020.

www.hypertherm.com