With a presence in approximately 30 countries, Flex acknowledges our responsibility to create a positive impact in the communities we serve, extending beyond our manufacturing facilities. That’s why we’ve committed to fostering a culture of giving back globally through strategic initiatives supported by the Flex Foundation and employee volunteerism.
As a part of our 2030 sustainability strategy and goals we are committed to 100 percent of our major sites (1,000 employees or more) partnering with a local NGO by 2025, a goal we reached three years early in 2022. In addition, we are committed to providing the tools needed to engage in 75 percent of employees to volunteer by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030.
Our community investment strategy focuses on empowering employees to improve the communities we serve. From local education to environmental sustainability, we encourage our team to contribute their time and skills to meaningful causes. Examples include our annual Giving Week programming, World Humanitarian Day activities, and more where employees collaborate with NGOs to connect and contribute to their communities. This not only helps our communities but also allows our volunteers to develop skills, build connections, and inspire others to make a positive impact.
We gathered insights from team members at Flex who prioritize volunteering, uncovering valuable lessons learned from our employee volunteer programs.
Anna Lei, a materials manager based in Shenzhen, China, has been with Flex for nearly 12 years, during which she has worked in purchasing and, more recently, in a Global Procurement and Supply Chain (GPSC) Asia Regional Role.
Anna describes herself as a “quiet type” of person. But when she heard of volunteering opportunities at Flex to serve disadvantaged communities, such as visiting children with autism, and elderly people who live alone, she felt inspired to dive in. From these opportunities, where she was forced to leave her comfort zone and connect with people of very different lived experiences, she learned the importance of breaking down barriers and building understandings with diverse groups of people.
Through various volunteer activities, I have learned valuable skills such as great teamwork, communication, leadership, etc. Working alongside diverse groups of people has enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively and appreciate different perspectives. Interfacing with persons of different backgrounds helps us understand different challenges they face and cherish what we have.
Anna continues to support her communities in any way she can. At the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, she logged hundreds of volunteer hours supporting, testing and vaccinating others, earning her a Nanshan District 2022 volunteer award, a Majia Long community outstanding volunteer award, and recognition at Flex as a volunteer star. Anna says she plans on continuing to find ways to give back, because volunteering not only has helped her grow professionally, but will “enhance the overall capability of her community as a whole to address its challenges.”
No day is the same at a dynamic company like Flex. And for Ediclei Nericke, a materials operator in Jaguariúna, Brazil, she was drawn to volunteerism for that very reason – to embrace all the unique opportunities that come with engaging in community service. Ediclei has collected food for people in need, walked for breast cancer, participated in our company’s annual Earth Day Challenge activities, visited nursing homes and more! She says each experience has taught her a new lesson and helped her see the world a little bit differently.
Every volunteer opportunity has special meaning. You will be part of different stories, and you’ll have contact with different people, so this makes us see the world differently, and that teaches us a lot.
Ediclei reflects on her transformative visit to the St. Vincent nursing home, where she encountered a man who shared heartfelt stories of his daily visits to his wife. This experience profoundly impacted her, prompting her to consider how compassion manifests in her own life and work.
One day Rafal Mondrzejewski, a facility services technician at Flex, got on his bicycle and biked to Amsterdam from Tczew, Poland, a journey spanning three countries, touting very precious cargo – chocolates. This was part of a “rally for chocolate” initiative, where proceeds from the bars went to a scholarship fund for local girls. Rafal went the extra mile to transport the purchased chocolates back to the site via bike to ensure the trip was not only socially gracious, but emission-free. It’s memories like this that Rafal says brings joy, fulfillment, and even skills development.
Volunteering has helped me support those in need but also helped give me the skills to promote my own mental health. It’s also helped build my professional contacts and network at Flex by supporting those in need and making more connections. I’ve even discovered and developed passions like biking!
Rafal’s efforts as a volunteer earned him the recognition of “volunteer of the year” from Flex in our 2023 Giving Week and has inspired countless others to invest in their passions outside of work and go the extra mile.
Rajasekaran M, a senior planning executive in Chennai, India, began volunteering after receiving an email urging employees to help at a school for the hearing impaired, which he was pleasantly surprised by. He never participated in an organization with employee volunteer programs like Flex, where there are regular, global activities as well as local investments that all lead up to the same strategy (the UN SDGs). He says volunteering has helped him understand himself and his own community better.
I showed up (at the school for the hearing impaired) expecting to support a community with many challenges, but I was embraced by a community with so many skills. I met so many different people that inspired me and were good at chess! It’s these types of experiences that I have Flex to thank for. Oftentimes we go to school and learn what we need for our careers but don’t invest the personal time to learn what’s going in our communities.”
He has also volunteered at medical camps in his community, supporting communities who may not be able to afford formal medical care. Rajasekaran’s unwavering commitment to community service earned him a “volunteer of the year” recognition from his colleagues in 2023.
Building stronger global communities hinges on the incredible impact of volunteerism. By combining our skills and resources, we can create meaningful change that reaches far beyond the factory floor, all while enhancing our personal and professional growth. Together, we can make a difference.
