39% offer staff paid time off to volunteer

More than a third (39%) of respondents offer staff paid time off to volunteer, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Its From big society to the big organisation: the role of organisations in supporting employee volunteering report, which surveyed 868 employers with more than 250 staff, also found that 23% of employers offer unpaid time off to volunteer.

The study also found:

• 93% of respondents which offer staff time off to volunteer believe that it provides personal development.
• The top three skills respondents believe employees with volunteering experience demonstrate are: teamwork (82%), communication (80%) and an understanding of the local community (45%).
• But just 39% say staff volunteering is embedded inot staff development or engagement plans.

Peter Cheese, chief executive at the CIPD, said: “Our research shows that corporate volunteering benefits businesses and their employees, as well as the communities in which they work.

“Not only does it help businesses build stronger roots in their local communities, but it also gives employees an invaluable opportunity to develop new skills and give something back. It can also form part of a new relationship between organisations and their employees, helping them to attract and retain the right talent to meet their wider business objectives.

“Today’s announcement raises important questions about how the three volunteering days will be administered and resourced and we look forward to consulting with our members and inputting in terms of the details.”