Telecommunications company Hawaiian Telcom on Tuesday announced the launch of its employee volunteer program, Malama Hours, which gives all full-time employees up to 40 paid hours to volunteer in the community every year.

“As a local provider, our investment in Hawaii goes beyond expanding our next-generation fiber network to making a positive difference in our communities,” said John Komeiji, Hawaiian Telcom president and general manager, in a news release. “Hawaii is our home, it’s not just a place where we do business, and our employees have always given generously of their time and talents to care for our communities. Creating our Malama Hours program solidifies our culture of volunteerism by arming our team with the freedom and flexibility to continue giving back in the ways they find most meaningful.”

Hawaiian Telcom cited a 2017 Deloitte study which found organizations that encourage volunteering boost employee morale and workplace atmosphere as a reason for launching Malama Hours. More than three-quarters of survey respondents in the study said they believed volunteering was essential to employee well-being.