Stepping for Change: How PagerDuty’s Employee-Led Wellness Challenge Creates a Purpose-Driven Culture and Lasting Impact

In early 2021, Humanity Matters, a nonprofit focused on supporting vulnerable young people in Australia, sent out a plea for help on LinkedIn due to the increased challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. PagerDuty's Community Responders, a group of volunteer social impact ambassadors, answered this call by organizing a wellness challenge called Step-tember, led by employees Alexis “AJ” Dullard and Emma Alcock. This initiative, which began as a local response, has since evolved into an annual global tradition that engages employees in a step challenge to raise funds for charities like Humanity Matters, Crisis Text Line, and Trek Medics International. Since its inception, Step-tember has generated US$92,000 in donations and company match dollars, significantly aiding nonprofits in their mission. The event not only fosters employee wellness and engagement but also enhances awareness of the diverse needs of communities and the role of charitable funds in addressing these challenges. The success of Step-tember underscores the value of empowering local champions within companies to drive global change, as demonstrated by PagerDuty's commitment to fostering a culture of giving back through its Employee Impact program.