When Purpose Calls: Why More Employees Are Seeking Meaning Over Money

Since partnering with the The Work From Home Hub, I’m coaching more and more people who are  questioning whether their work still gives them a sense of impact, meaning or purpose.

They’re proud of what they’ve achieved but something feels missing and as such are looking to change careers. 

Increasingly, I hear phrases like:

• “I want to do something that matters.”

• “I’d love to work for a charity or social enterprise.”

• “I just want to feel like my work makes a difference.”

They are dissatisfied in their role and feel a pull towards something more purposeful.

The Meaning Deficit...

We spend so much of our lives at work it’s no wonder people are starting to ask whether that time is well spent. While pay and benefits matter, they’re no longer enough to keep talented people fulfilled. Employees want to know their contribution has value beyond profit and that their work leaves the world just a little better than they found it.

When that sense of meaning fades, even the most loyal team members start looking elsewhere. And that’s a problem employers can’t afford to ignore.

Bridging the Gap: Business Meets Community...

Employees don’t necessarily have to leave to find purpose if their organisation can help them connect their skills to something bigger. One powerful way to do that is through partnerships with local charities and community organisations. These collaborations don’t just benefit society, they reignite engagement and pride within the workforce.

Imagine:

• A marketing team mentoring young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Engineers helping a local sustainability project improve its infrastructure.

• Finance professionals volunteering time to help a community charity with budgeting and strategy.

  
  

When people can use their skills for good, even for a few hours a month, the results are transformative, for them AND for the business.

The Ripple Effect

Charity partnerships can become a cornerstone of company culture. They:

• Strengthen employee loyalty and wellbeing.

• Build local reputation and trust.

• Encourage cross team collaboration and leadership development.

• Create a renewed sense of shared purpose across the business.

It’s not just corporate social responsibility, it’s human sustainability.

A Challenge to Employers...

If you’re an employer noticing talented people drifting, ask yourself:

• Are we giving people the chance to make a difference?

• Do our values translate into real, lived experiences at work?

• How might we collaborate with local charities to create mutual impact?

Purpose is powerful. And in today’s world, the organisations that thrive will be those that understand it’s not just employees who need to feel meaningful - the work itself does.