Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is an employee benefit that allows individuals to receive regular compensation while volunteering for approved charities or community organizations. According to ASE’s 2024 Michigan Policies and Practices Survey, 22% of companies offer VTO, with 90% paying their employees for this time off. On average, companies provide a maximum of two VTO days per year.
Common corporate volunteering activities include cleaning public spaces, volunteering at food banks, homeless shelters, or animal rescues, building homes for those in need, donating blood, and handing out care packages.
The benefits of VTO are multifaceted. For employees, it fosters a stronger sense of community through hands-on civic work and can boost mental well-being, self-esteem, and reduce stress. Additionally, volunteering can inspire employees and increase job satisfaction.
For businesses, VTO supports charitable causes aligned with the company’s mission beyond monetary donations. It can improve recruiting and retention efforts by appealing to younger workers and enhance the company’s public reputation. Furthermore, it promotes a supportive work environment by fostering a friendly and collaborative atmosphere.
Implementing a VTO policy involves several steps:
1. **Create the Policy**: Define goals and objectives; determine eligible charitable organizations; decide if employees can choose their own charities; set guidelines for part-time and full-time employees; establish verification and tracking methods; determine the amount of VTO allowed annually; outline the approval process and request timelines.
2. **Get Leadership Buy-In**: Present the policy to leadership to ensure alignment with company values.
3. **Communicate the Policy**: Add it to the employee handbook; announce it in town halls and team meetings; post details on the company’s intranet; discuss during onboarding; encourage sharing of volunteering experiences.
4. **Measure Effectiveness**: Monitor participation rates and gather feedback for adjustments.
For assistance in starting a VTO program or finding community service projects, contact Linda Olejniczak at lolejniczak@aseonline.org or explore SHARE Detroit for over 500 opportunities.
By Linda Olejniczak
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