Employee Volunteer Days

Giving back matters: Henry Schein's paid volunteer days off

For Henry Schein, helping the communities in which we work is not just a responsibility, but a core value. Since our beginnings in 1932, our founders, Henry and Esther Schein, instilled in the company the belief that success comes from embracing and committing to the well-being of our community. Today, this commitment is at the heart of our corporate social responsibility program, Henry Schein Cares.

Henry Schein Cares is our corporate social responsibility initiative, established in 2001. Through this program, we strive to increase access to care for underserved populations across four key areas of focus in the UK: health, wellness, and prevention; community development; public health advocacy; and disaster relief response. It is our firm belief that by ‘doing good’ for the communities we serve, we can create a healthier, more inclusive, and more prosperous future for all.

Volunteering days: making an impact together

Henry Schein has a scheme which allows employees to take paid volunteer days off, allowing our dedicated Team Schein Members (TSMs) to take up to two paid days each year to pursue volunteering activities.

These days provide an opportunity to give back to local communities and support our wider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and goals.

Through our volunteering days, TSMs have made a tremendous impact, and we'd like to share some inspiring case studies of their experiences.

The Wildlife Trust

Field Sales Consultant (FSC) Wayne Greyling embraced his volunteering day to support woodlands in Hampshire alongside The Wildlife Trust. Wayne played a crucial role in preserving Hazel Trees by felling Poplar trees, which were native to America and posed a threat to the local woodland.

By creating open spaces, Wayne ensured more sunlight reached the new Hazel trees, aiding their growth and creating a habitat for the vulnerable Hazel Dormouse.

Wayne expressed his joy in being part of a dedicated team of volunteers and found the experience both physically demanding and mentally rejuvenating.

Wayne said: “There are so many great things that we can achieve while enjoying the great outdoors and while learning new skills and forgetting about other daily stresses that life throws up. It felt great to be a part of a great team of volunteers too. Though somewhat physically demanding it was a day that certainly took my mind and thoughts away from work and felt so relaxing at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and will be doing more days with the Wildlife Trust in future.”

Communigrow

A group of TSMs from our Design Studio joined forces to support Communigrow, a registered food education charity that empowers people from all walks of life to grow their own food and reconnect with nature.

The volunteers worked tirelessly to create a brand-new growing space in Maidstone, clearing the area and preparing it for a Perennial Garden. They also provided valuable support by creating social media assets and training videos. Pete Hodgson, one of our TSMs, even contributed remotely by developing an animated video template for online training. This collaboration left a lasting impact on both the volunteers and the charity.

Maria Paez, Communigrow Community Engagement Manager said: “Thank you so much for helping us with the new Perennial Garden yesterday. With your help we will be able to teach about the benefits (for people and the environment) of growing perennial plants. We could not have done it without you.”

The Hygiene Bank

Henry Schein Cares in the UK has partnered with The Hygiene Bank to tackle hygiene poverty. As part of this partnership, many TSMs have used volunteering days to support them, as well as a national business-wide drive to donate much-needed hygiene products.

Our generous TSMs donated a remarkable 723.34kg of personal and household hygiene products. The donated items were organised and packaged by our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee members, who worked diligently to tailor packages for different members of the community.

The committee personally delivered packages to local causes, including The Nigerian Community Association and Warren Wood Primacy Academy. These contributions brought relief to individuals and families in need.

Gillingham Street Angels

The Henry Schein Dental marketing team dedicated a day of their time to the Gillingham Street Angels, a grassroots charity providing assistance to homeless and vulnerable people in and around Medway, Kent.

The team actively participated in sorting and displaying donations at the Gillingham Street Angels shop in Chatham.

Emma Humphries, UK Events, Equipment & Medi Marketing Manager, said: “Being able to have this opportunity to take paid time off and support the Gillingham Street Angels was a truly humbling experience and a great team building activity. I would encourage other TSMs to use their volunteering days as it is highly rewarding to help health happen in our local communities.”

Dentaid

James Salter, Head of Equipment in the UK, volunteered with Dentaid to bring vital dental care directly to those in need. James assisted patients seeking dental treatment at Dentaid's mobile dental unit in Broadstairs, offering dental screening, toothbrushing, and dietary advice.

By going through patients' personal health information and supporting the dental van's operations, James played a critical role in delivering essential care to local homeless individuals.

James said: “Being able to support the community with such an invaluable health service is part of our corporate social responsibility, and an excellent example of working together to make health happen. I look forward to further opportunities in which I and the wider Henry Schein team can help.”