volunteers in the workplace

[Karon Trenaman]

Hi there!!

I am doing a research project for my company, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, about the use of volunteers in the workplace. Currently ICBC works with volunteers from local community police offices on road safety issues like speed watch, infant child seats, seniors and driving and pedestrian safety. We also work with volunteers in autocrime prevention- both finding stolen autos with info from the CPIC database and leaving crime prevention audits on vehicle windshields to educate drivers on their risk of auto theft and how to target harden their vehicle.

We are looking at ways to enhance our relationship with current volunteer groups and potentially create new ones on other road safety issues like impaired driving.

We are also corporately looking at ways to engage our staff in volunteer work whether it is representing ICBC in areas like road safety or volunteering for community causes as a corporate group.

I would like your feedback on the following:

How does volunteering enhance the employee's relationship with the company?

Are you working with volunteers and if so, in what capacity?

How do you recruit them? Retain them? Reward them?

What is the cost of managing the volunteer program?

What are the the benefits- financial and others?

What age range are the volunteers?

What duties do they perform?

Who oversees their work?

Do you "own" the volunteer program or are you a partner with other agencies with a vested interest in the volunteer work?

What skills do your volunteers bring to the job?

What motivates them to volunteer?

What expectations do you have of each other e.g. minimum hours of work per month? minimum hours required in a program before a reference letter is provided? level of direction and management of volunteer work? How volunteers are acknowledged?


Thanks for any information you can provide.

regards,

Karon