Employer-supported volunteerism: the good news partnership
January 27, 2003
By Louise Chatterton Luchuk
Here's the bad news first. The results of the 2000 National Survey
of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP), released by Statistics
Canada, told us that the number of volunteers dropped by one million
between 1997 and 2000, and just 7% of Canada's volunteers contributed
73% of all volunteer hours. The good news is that in the midst of the
decline, employer-supported volunteerism is on the upswing. Though not
a new concept, it is an emerging trend offering volunteer-involving
organizations a much-needed opportunity to connect with a broader pool
of volunteers.
What does employer-supported volunteerism look like?
According to Kristin Smith, director of corporate relations at
Volunteer Canada, "employer-supported
volunteerism describes a company that voluntarily supports employee
involvement in the community. The ideal employer-supported volunteer
program is integrated and contains different levels of employer involvement
and expenditure." But what is it about employer-supported volunteerism
that interests employers? Smith points out that, "by combining social
action with good community relations and employee development, corporations
provide solutions to social problems, strengthen the local economy,
build goodwill toward their companies and achieve business goals."
Dan O'Grady, who oversees the employer-supported volunteer program
at Enbridge Inc. - a Calgary-based energy transportation and
distribution company - confirms Smith's words. "At Enbridge, we believe
that helping to improve the quality of life in society, particularly
in the communities where our employees work and live, is fundamental
to our success. We strive to create a workplace where each of our employees
has the opportunity to grow and achieve and to contribute to the well-being
of communities through volunteerism." For businesses, then, employer-supported
volunteerism has a lot to do with corporate social responsibility.
Enbridge currently has employer-supported volunteer programs in Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto. Among other projects, volunteers have painted fences and the wheelchair ramp at a hospice, cleaned up parks, provided volunteer support at fundraising events, and collected warm winter clothing for those in need. O'Grady sums up Enbridge's commitment by saying, "We want to re-stimulate community thinking by helping to encourage more volunteerism."
"Going home with a full heart"
For the Kingston, Ontario division of StarTek Canada Services,
employer-supported volunteerism does more than provide an opportunity
to demonstrate corporate social responsibility. It provides the company
with a practical solution to the nature of call centre work: it can
be monotonous when calls are slow, or stressful when calls are challenging.
Enter the Morale Committee. Employees take six-month turns sitting on
the committee, with the strict mandate "to make StarTek a fun place
to work" for its 1,100 employees. An important part of the fun is creating
opportunities for employees to volunteer and raise funds for local organizations
such as the local food bank, youth shelter, Humane Society, and United
Way. One charity is supported each month and is featured on a company
bulletin board so that employees can learn about the organizations they
are helping.
Darlene Doherty is the Morale Committee coordinator, an extension of her position as administrative assistant to the HR group manager. Doherty has seen first hand what a difference the employer-supported volunteer program has made and how wonderful it is to "go home with a full heart." She also notes how working toward a common goal has brought cohesion to the various departments within the company.
She advises volunteer-involving organizations to plan ahead before approaching a business and to put their request in writing. At StarTek, the committee makes all decisions about what organizations to support when the budget is set in October.
Small business making a big difference
It's not just companies with thousands of employees that are investing in employer-supported volunteer programs. Prima Computer Solutions Inc. in St. John's, Newfoundland is an excellent example of how small business can make a difference. Patsy Tremblett-DiNillo, company president, had a history of being personally involved with the Children's Wish Foundation before she began her company in 1995 with a staff of three (today there are six). When she started receiving dozens and dozens of calls asking for contributions, she decided to do what she could do, and that was to focus on one particular charity ë The Children's Wish Foundation ë and to create opportunities for her employees to become involved. Tremblett-DiNillo's message for other small businesses is to pick something small and start there. She also encourages volunteer-involving organizations to "start by educating small business owners that they have a lot to offer. It's not just about money. While they may not have the dollars to contribute, they can make the donation of time. Maybe they can start by taking on just one mail-out a year for an organization."
Derek Rumboldt-deLouche, provincial director of the Newfoundland and Labrador
Children's Wish Foundation, enthusiastically relates how much Prima Computer Solutions has offered to the foundation, "not only through direct benefits of donated computers for our wish children but also through the use of Prima's staff and expertise to help in everything from maintaining our office systems, to organizing and staffing fundraisers."
Resources to make it happen
Encouraging small businesses like Prima Computer Solutions, as well
as medium-sized ones, is an important focus in 2003 for Smith at Volunteer
Canada. She wants them to know about the resources that are out there.
These resources can be accessed through Volunteer
Canada, Imagine
ë an initiative of the Canadian Centre
for Philanthropy ë and the Conference
Board of Canada's Corporate Community Investment program. At
the local level, several volunteer centres across the country have established
workplace volunteer councils to connect businesses and organizations
and promote the concept of employer-supported volunteerism. In addition,
Smith advises that resources specifically geared to the volunteer-involving
organizations are available.
Smith's words of advice for organizations interested in developing an employer-supported volunteer partnership? "If you are local, keep it local," she suggests. "Look for partnership opportunities within your own neighbourhood. Do a 10-kilometre radius scan. People are more willing to get involved in their own backyard." And people are getting involved because employer-supported volunteerism
makes a lot of sense. Employees benefit. Employers benefit. Now, how
can your organization benefit?
Louise Chatterton Luchuk is a freelance writer and consultant who
combines her love of writing with her experience at the local, provincial,
and national levels of volunteer-involving organizations. For more information,
visit www.luchuk.com.
