Study Links Volunteerism to Employee Productivity

Scouting thrives on volunteers.

Our mission to serve America’s youth with a quality Scouting experience relies heavily on more than one million adult volunteers across the country, and we are proud to have them on board.

And I’ve always been interested in how Scouting can round out the lifestyles of our volunteers.

Now one recent study has helped answer that question.

According to a report in the Athens Banner-Herald, a University of Georgia study found that employees who volunteer often show signs of increased productivity in the workplace, are more apt to help co-workers and have a greater sense of satisfaction.

The study, published this year in the Academy of Management Journal, also noted that volunteerism is on the rise. About 62.8 million Americans donated their time or skills to a volunteer organization in 2010.

Here’s more:

• UGA’s first study discovered that the more people volunteered, the more they wanted meaningful experiences in other areas of their lives. In the same way, the more their job was meaningful, the more they wanted to volunteer.
• A second, broader UGA study found “employees who volunteered worked harder, were more willing to help their colleagues, (talked) positively about their companies (and) were less likely to waste time at work or miss meetings. They just tend to be better performing individuals.”

When we talk about making sure our Scouts are Prepared. For Life.™, we hope that the skills we teach will lead our young people to continue to help build strong communities as part of their adult lives. As this study indicates, volunteer activities like Scouting help make great employees, too.

UGA researcher Jessica Rodell makes an excellent point to summarize her findings: “Businesses get good image management when they help the community and employees are happier working for their company. … Nonprofits also get the support of the company which allows them to provide more services to those in need.”

I absolutely agree.

How do you feel about establishing volunteer policies at your company or organization? Are you also finding that employees who volunteer their time are more productive? Please share your observations with me!

Thanks!

Wayne