Can I volunteer as part of my job?
By Belle Hann
Some employers might choose Silly Hat Day or paintballing to boost teamwork and staff morale. However, other employers prefer corporate volunteering as a very rewarding alternative.
Guess which phone company's staff helped to renovate a hostel for homeless men? It's Vodafone which, together with Mission Australia, gave Rawson Place in Newtown a much-needed makeover.
Did you know that employees of Macquarie Bank volunteer in soup kitchens and teach underprivileged children to read? And which household name has been volunteering in orphanages and soup kitchens since 1979? It is Qantas Airlines, whose cabin crew regularly spend their layover days overseas volunteering.
These are just a few examples. Corporate social responsibility is no longer just a trendy term. It is recognised as an essential part of company culture. As many businesses are discovering, staff volunteering is a fantastic way to motivate staff and strengthen company objectives.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about corporate volunteering, with a list of contacts to help you locate opportunities that might interest your company.
Q: In what ways will corporate volunteering further my company's interests?
A: Volunteering often involves direct contact with communities, and this is a very effective way for companies to gain a better understanding of their customers and future clients. Face-to-face interaction allows staff to mingle with real people and gain a perspective they wouldn't get from data in a spreadsheet.
"From a business point of view, we own and manage community assets, so it's important our staff have an understanding of community needs," said Karen Boalch, communications manager with the Macquarie Bank Foundation.
Corporate volunteering is an excellent way of establishing company visibility and fostering brand values such as credibility. Businesses with a good reputation in the local community are less likely to face opposition when seeking to expand operations.
Q: I hear that corporate volunteering is good for staff morale. How so?
A: Employees develop pride, respect and loyalty for their employer as a result of volunteering. It demonstrates that the company 'walks the talk' and is committed to improving the planet, rather than a nameless, faceless entity.
Developing teamwork skills is also a key benefit to the staff who volunteer. Teaching a 7-year old child to read may, in turn, teach staff valuable communication and team building skills.
"We often hear back from our corporate partners that their time outside the office volunteering with us really helped to consolidate the skills they use everyday," said Karen Dimmock, Conservation Volunteers, a not-for-profit environmental organisation.
In addition to new skills and knowledge, taking staff out of their 9–5 comfort zone helps them to apply what they know, such as occupational health and safety, into an entirely different environment. According to Karen Boalch, Macquarie Bank: "It takes you out of the office and puts everything into a different perspective."
Staff can also feel proud of contributing to something worthwhile and valuable to the community. Conservation Volunteers gets great feedback from past volunteers, long after their corporate assignment is finished. Karen Dimmock said: "We hear people saying 'I drove past those trees we planted last year – gosh, they've grown!'"
Q. How can businesses encourage their staff to participate in corporate volunteering?
A. "Make the program attractive and flexible to the employees and recognise the efforts of those who do participate in the program", states Volunteering Australia. In their publication Tips for Motivating Staff, they suggest consulting staff before making a commitment to a cause, to offer incentives for volunteering and to providing a clear process for staff who want to participate.
At Macquarie Bank, staff can find information about volunteer activities on their corporate intranet. Staff can search constantly updated requests received from not-for-profit organisations looking for volunteers. This system supports and encourages staff to take ownership and follow up volunteering leads, rather than forcing unwilling workers to volunteer.
Finally, offer the concept of volunteering as a productive activity that 'heals the world', which indeed it is. Just as Karen Dimmock heard people say: "We didn't just throw paint around, and we didn't just go out for a lunch. We went out there and did something good."
Q. How can The Centre for Volunteering help businesses engage in corporate volunteering?
A. The Centre for Volunteering is the peak body for volunteering in NSW. The Centre works with companies and not-for-profit organisations to form ongoing, beneficial relationships. Through The Centre's Volunteer Referral Service, we help companies find suitable volunteering roles with hundreds of not-for-profit organisations that are members of The Centre. Companies can request to be notified directly of individual and team volunteering opportunities submitted to us regularly by our members.
If your business is looking to place its staff with a not-for-profit or if you are a not-for-profit organisation able to place corporate volunteers, please ring Jan Cosgrove on 02 9261 3600 or email members@volunteering.com.au
Examples of not-for-profit organisations with corporate partnerships:
More information
Contact The Centre for Volunteering to find out how to become a corporate volunteer
Read Volunteering Australia's Tips for Motivating Staff
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au