Serena Software has become the latest firm to embrace the growing trend for green activity days for employees, yesterday offering its 800 staff worldwide the opportunity to participate in local environmental initiatives.

Around 80 staff in the UK took the opportunity for a half day off to work on a path clearing project at a site near St Albans for the Earth Works charity, which provides people with learning difficulties with access to green spaces and natural habitats.

Peter Sianchuk, vice president for worldwide customer support at the software company, said that the aim of the initiative was to promote environmental awareness among staff. But he added that the company also expected to realise a number of business benefits from as a result of the day.

"We already have a low employee attrition rate, but when you get people involved in this type of initiative it really does improve motivation across the team," he said. "It is also a great improving internal communication between different offices around the world as it gets people talking about the activity they undertook."

Sianchuk said that the vast majority of staff had embraced the new project and that the company was now planning to repeat the initiative several times throughout the year.

The move is part of a growing trend for organisations to promote environmentally-focused corporate volunteering schemes, many of which allow staff to take time off of work.

Most notably the National Trust last month offered all its staff and volunteers the day off as part of its Green Leap Day initiative, inviting them to use the extra day off to undertake green improvements to their home or community.