Fostering Engagement and Social Responsibility: The Role of Volunteer Time Off ( VTO)
August 22, 2024
VTO or Volunteer Time Off is a great benefit to offer your employees and a way to embrace community service days as an organization. Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is a type of paid leave where employees receive their regular compensation for time spent volunteering for approved charities or community organizations. According to ASE’s 2024 Michigan Policies and Practices Survey: 22% of companies offer VTO, 90% pay their employees to take VTO, and on average the maximum amount of VTO days given is two days per year.
Common Corporate Volunteering Activities
- Cleaning up public spaces
- Volunteering at food banks, homeless shelters, or animal rescues
- Building homes for those in need
- Donating blood
- Handing out care packages
Benefits of Volunteer Time Off
For Employees:
- Stronger Sense of Community: Hands-on civic work fosters a connection to the community.
- Boosted Well-being: Many volunteers report improved mental well-being, greater self-esteem, and reduced stress.
- Increased Employee Engagement: Volunteering can inspire and motivate employees, leading to fresh ideas.
- Boosted Job Satisfaction: Employees who volunteer through work-sponsored programs often report higher job satisfaction.
For Businesses:
- Support Charitable Causes: Aligns with the company’s mission beyond monetary donations.
- Improved Recruiting and Retention: Especially appealing to younger workers.
- Enhanced Public Reputation: Strengthens the employer brand.
- Supportive Work Environment: Fosters a friendly and collaborative atmosphere.
How to Implement a VTO Policy
- 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.
- Get Leadership Buy-In:
- Present the policy and its benefits to leadership to ensure alignment with company values and gain support.
- Communicate the Policy:
- Add it to the employee handbook.
- Announce it in town halls and team meetings.
- Post details on the company’s intranet and collaboration tools.
- Discuss it during employee onboarding.
- Encourage employees to share their volunteering experiences.
- Measure the Program’s Effectiveness:
- Monitor participation rates and gather feedback to make necessary adjustments.
Need Help Getting Your VTO Program Off the Ground?
Contact Linda Olejniczak at lolejniczak@aseonline.org for a VTO sample policy. Have a VTO policy and need a community service project? Check out SHARE Detroit to search for causes that excite you and your team. Explore over 500 opportunities for you and your team to share your time and talent. Choose from thousands of ways to make a difference.
By Linda Olejniczak, courtesy of SBAM-approved partner, ASE.
Click here for more News & Resources.