Volunteers from the workforce say that volunteering has a positive effect on their well-being, giving them a greater sense of purpose and motivation both at work and in their personal lives. They also report higher satisfaction with their employer and job. This is according to a study conducted by the UK-based organization Education and Employers, which runs Inspiring the Future, a British model for Expand Your Future in Iceland. The research was conducted between 2018 and 2019 and surveyed over 1,000 volunteers who have contributed their time to Inspiring the Future since its launch in 2009.
Increased Job Satisfaction and Motivation Both Inside and Outside Work
The study focussed on volunteers who have visited schools to share their career journeys with students in various formats, such as classroom talks, career fairs, and interview skills training. The findings reveal that:
- 62% of respondents felt a greater sense of purpose at work after volunteering.
- 88% reported increased motivation in their daily lives outside of work.
- 77% experienced a boost in motivation at work.
- 49% felt greater job satisfaction and were also more satisfied with their employer.
Additionally, volunteers who dedicated more time to volunteering reported even greater motivation at work. Among those who volunteered more than 10 days per year, 55% experienced a significant impact on their work motivation, compared to 32% of those who volunteered about four hours per year. While the correlation between volunteering and motivation is often small, it remains statistically significant even when accounting for background factors such as age, gender, location, and work experience.
Employer Support Makes a Difference
The study also found that the more support volunteers received from their employers, the greater the benefits they reported in the aforementioned areas. This was particularly evident among those who were able to volunteer during work hours. Among the respondents:
- 62% reported increased job satisfaction when their employer actively encouraged volunteering opportunities for employees.
- By comparison, 40% reported increased job satisfaction when their employer was aware of their volunteering but provided only indirect support.
Many Inspiring the Future volunteers also spoke positively about their employers. Less than 1% felt that their employer discouraged or restricted their volunteering efforts, while 46% said they received strong support.
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