January marks National Mentoring Month, an annual effort to increase the number of mentors across the country and assure positive outcomes for more of America’s youth. While the positive impacts of mentoring are usually associated with young people, Comcast has found that mentorship can have an equally impressive impact on the mentors themselves — in particular their experience and attitude in the workplace.
Since 2009, Comcast in Houston has hosted students from Benbrook Elementary School in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston through a program called “Beyond School Walls”. Locally, 28 Comcast employees serve as “Bigs” to “Littles”. These mentors meet once every two weeks at Comcast’s offices throughout the school year – and the results so far show that our “Littles” have better grades, are less likely to skip school and are more likely to graduate from high school. The results also show a tremendously positive impact on Comcast employees involved as “Bigs” and their satisfaction at work. Based on the most recent companywide employee satisfaction survey, Comcasters already have an overwhelmingly positive view of working for the Company – our many “best place to work” type awards are testament to that. However, we also found that:
- On average, employees who are currently participating as a “big” in the Beyond School Walls program or who have formerly participated are 10 percent even more likely to consider Comcast a great place to work.
- These same employees are also 10 percent more likely to recommend Comcast as a great place to work.
- And they are 10 percent prouder to work for Comcast than non-mentors.
- Finally, current Comcast mentors are 15 percent more likely to stay at Comcast if offered a comparable position (with similar pay and benefits) at another company.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston also uses the Comcast example to help spur other companies on to form workplace mentorship programs.
Will you join us in mentoring and supporting local youth? You can learn about volunteering opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston here.
