‘Pay for pay’ is a new trend that can voluntarily change the future

People are a popular way to give some back to society. Whether he is involved in a tree-planting group, or helping a charity shop, it is something to spend time contributing to a reason. About one billion people around the world.

There are some businesses Raised it Positively, by allowing employees to take time from their jobs to volunteers. And research shows that by doing this, those firms are more. Attractive employerwith Happy employee,

But in a stunning new trend, some non -profit organizations have started charging companies for access to their volunteer programs.

Usually this “pay-to-volunteer” approach consists of non-profit entities, which set a fee for companies to send groups of employees to lend a hand. And although no official figures are available about how broad it is, we found a lot of examples in UK, America and Australia.

For example, an Australian non -profit organization. We voluntarily stacked the shelves for a day for three employees and saw a business of AU $ 600 (£ 302) for three employees to stack the shelves and serve customers in the food bank.

Another AU $ 1200 (£ 605) to pack grocery boxes for more than 10 volunteers, and a similar fee to distribute food to communities in a minibus for a uniform fee for five people. A third challan AU $ 130 (£ 65) per capita for a change eats for those who struggle to bear food.

Such arrangements can redefine traditional relations between corporations and charitable organizations. So why switch to such a possible disruptive model?

our research Some Australian examples suggest how much it comes down to how much priority to the transaction value of the system of volunteers with a particular non -profit organization businesses.

They can argue that taking charge generates revenue, which helps cover the cost of running the volunteer program, as well as funds the organization. They can also assume that any fee can be justified by several benefits. Volunteers can do For companies that choose to pay them. These include enhanced staff morale and engagement, as well as related effects on the company’s image and reputation.

In contrast, non -profit individuals who reject the idea of ​​charging companies are more interested in the symbolic value of volunteers. They will argue that a cost to reach voluntarily oppose the selfless spirit of the whole practice.

Valuable volunteer

For our research in trend, we focused on the “Food Rescue” area – useful without any need but surrendered non -profitable to distribute surplus and unusual food. One of the non -profit officers we emphasized that “should be given time without any cost.”

He said, “I think people who are charging organizations to come under their operations are short -sighted and completely remembering this point.

“The opportunity is to make a relationship (with a business) and then understand where the best value can be run by that relationship. It is not presenting an invoice because people get out of the door.”

Others expressed concern that the “pay to help” model creates a two-tier system that completely depends on the financial capacity of a firm. This can separate and exclude small businesses unable to meet these costs.

We also heard that there are concerns about the implications for the future of the volunteer sector. If paying to the volunteer becomes widespread, will this overall volunteer increase or reduce the base?

Another manager said that the idea of ​​paying the volunteer at the risk of reducing corporate volunteer experiences, as fees could bring unhealthy expectations. Was knowing that their voluntary activity was being paid to some employees to expect privileges or some results, for example, changing the dynamic between them and those that they are going to help?

It was also suggested that non-profit institutions may feel bound to ensure the satisfaction of their duty-paying corporate volunteers, for the obstruction of the charitable work they are being performed.

There are also implications for non-paying volunteers. The presence of volunteers whose employers are paying for them can reduce the meaning of voluntary work that usually work more.

Therefore, non -profit organizations should contact this new model of charging for volunteers with caution, without fully attaching with these questions. The introduction of a financial component can reduce employees’ enthusiasm and motivate companies to reduce their volunteer projects. This can more generally change the overall perception of people’s non -profit institutions, affects support – and donations – they can trust.

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