Why Volunteering Makes Good Business Sense
In 2000, more than 6.5 million Canadian volunteers contributed just over 1 billion hours of their time to charitable and voluntary organizations. If the organizations they supported had hired people to do the work done by their volunteers, the total payroll cost would have been well over $17 billion.
While it is good to know that so many Canadians are volunteering, it is also true that even as the number of volunteer hours being worked each year increases, the actual number of volunteers across the country is declining. With each passing year, it becomes more difficult to recruit and retain the new volunteers needed for the many vital tasks that contribute to a strong and healthy community. The need for help is even more critical in rapidly growing communities such as Markham, where not-for-profit organizations are faced with a requirement to expand their services as they reach out to an increasingly diverse population.
Employers who actively encourage and support volunteerism understand the win/win advantages. The communities in which they operate benefit greatly from additional volunteer support. The employers benefit from the enhanced skills their employee volunteers bring to the office every day.
In a recent survey, 79% of employed volunteers said their volunteer work helped improve interpersonal skills such as understanding people better, motivating others or dealing with difficult situations. More than two-thirds, 68%, said volunteering helped them develop better communications skills, while 63% reported an increased knowledge about the issues related to their volunteer activities. More than one-third of those surveyed said they gained new skills they could apply directly to their jobs.
Some 67% of all Canadian volunteers are employed, with almost half of these receiving some form of support and recognition from their employers. Employer support programs can take many forms. The most common forms are: approval for volunteers to use company equipment or facilities; approval to take time off; or approval to change hours of work. There are a variety of other approaches that recognize and encourage employee volunteerism. An example is IBM’s Fund for Community Service, a program which recognizes employees’ volunteer service by providing funds or equipment to support specific projects in organizations supporting those who are disadvantaged.
Individuals interested in volunteering in Markham might want to start by taking a look at the many opportunities identified by York Region’s Community Information & Volunteer Centre, CIVIC 211, which offers an on-line service that helps match individuals with organizations needing help. While the number and type of available opportunities change on a daily basis, in early July, CIVIC listed over 2000 volunteer opportunities in more than 250 Markham organizations. This innovative service can be reached at www.civic.ca or through a link on the Town of Markham website, www.markham.ca. For those who would like to explore volunteer opportunities in person, a call to Information Markham and Volunteer Centre at 905.415.7500 is a direct connection to Markham’s volunteer advisors who can match you and your special talents with the organizations that most need your help.
There are opportunities for volunteers to lend a hand in a wide variety of organizations covering arts, culture and recreation facilities, social services, religious, education and research, and health care organizations.
While many volunteers provide specific program support, the most common form of volunteerism is organizing or supervising events (57%), followed by acting as an unpaid board or committee member (41%).
Markham is fortunate to be home to companies ranging from small independent businesses to the very largest national and multi-national corporations. Not every company can implement the sophisticated corporate philanthropy programs found in the very largest corporations, but even the smallest companies can commit to making a difference within the community by recognizing and encouraging employee volunteerism. It’s just good business.
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
