Celebrating Global Pay it Forward Day with 6,600+ volunteer hours!

What’s the culture at Payworks all about? Simply put, we’re team players. In neighbourhoods all across Canada, we’re here to help – not only with our modern workforce tools and our industry-leading support, but also by volunteering in our shared communities. And we don’t just talk the talk…

In our 25^th year of doing business, we’re thrilled to announce that we support almost 300 grass-roots organizations across the country through sponsorship, volunteering, investment and employee-initiated giving. Given that today is Global Pay it Forward Day, we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the ways in which we Pay it Forward right here at home.

This year also marks the 10-year anniversary of Payworks’ Pay it Forward (PIF) Day program, which enables our staff to take off two calendar days per year to volunteer their valuable time and talent with a not-for-profit organization about which they’re passionate. A decade later, it gives us all the feels to say just how many hours we’ve been able to give back *drum roll*…

Since its inception, our staff have volunteered a total of 6,600+ hours through the PIF program, with 33% of those hours taking place last year alone!

Curious about how our staff chooses to show up for their community? We’re humbled to count the ways and send out all the gratitude to each and every one of them for making their communities a better place.

As a National Partner of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada (RMHC) and a Major Business Partner of Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, our staff proudly pulls on their PIF shirts (and hairnets as required!) to volunteer at local restaurant locations for both McHappy Day and Camp Day.

Photo: Sales Manager Cassie Hamer and Sales Consultant Gurpinder Sandhu receive volunteer certificates during McHappy Day 2024.

“I love volunteering at McHappy Day each year because it gives me the opportunity to support Ronald McDonald House Charities, which play such an important role in providing families with a place to stay while their children receive medical treatment,” says Cassie. “By giving just a little bit of our time, we can make a huge impact on the lives of these families, helping to ease their burdens during difficult times. Plus, it’s always a fun throwback to my first job at McDonald's, letting me relive the glory days while contributing to such a meaningful cause.”

Photo: Office Administrator Margaret Windsor and Product Analyst Emily Peters collecting donations during Camp Day 2024.

“Camp Day is a cause that I support because I believe that every child should have the opportunity to feel like a kid, regardless of their circumstances and resources at home,” says Emily. “One of my close friends worked as a counselor with Tim Hortons Camps for a few years, and she spoke highly of the impact that the time spent with friends and in nature had for the kids who attended.”

“The atmosphere at the restaurant on Camp Day is electrifying,” says Margaret. “The staff show up with great big smiles on their face, they greet all the customers with so much energy for the day, and they show the biggest amount of respect towards all the volunteers. That’s why I put my hand up each and every year to volunteer and will continue. I’m thankful we can take time out of the work day to choose to volunteer at great events like Tim Hortons Camp Day. It’s truly so nice to get out in the community, and I’m honoured to represent our company in such an amazing way.”

We also absolutely love to see when employees turn their PIF time into a team building activity. Is there a better way to connect and get to know your coworkers than by volunteering for the common goal of doing good in your community?!

Photo: Fourteen staff members from our Toronto team volunteered at the Toronto Humane Society in 2024.

Our staff also gets creative with how their PIF hours are used. Not restricted to using them as full days, many split up their hours into multiple occasions – using a couple hours here or a half-day there. This allows them to give back to multiple organizations per year!

Photo: Quality Assurance Analyst Amarjeet Sharma and Manager, Development Janice Gross standing in the rain while volunteering at Fuel Good Day in support of the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation in 2024.

Photo: Implementation Support Leader Vanessa San Diego and Client Service Representative Chidi Onochie wrapping presents in support of the St.Amant Foundation.

“Using my Pay it Forward Days is something I eagerly anticipate each year,” says Implementation Support Leader Vanessa San Diego. “The opportunity to give back to the community through my workplace feels incredibly fulfilling, and it’s definitely something I love doing with peers.”

We’re proud to continue fostering a workplace where experiences like these can be shared, and we look forward to the wonderful memories and community impact to come in the future. Happy #PayItForward Day!

If you want to learn about the opportunities to join our growing Canadian tech company, visit: https://www.payworks.ca/about-us/careers.