How Volunteerism Enhances Workplace Skills

Skills-based volunteering is a growing trend in corporate citizenship, where employees apply their job-related expertise in specialized areas to support charitable causes. This type of volunteering allows participants to develop new skills while making a positive impact. Companies see skills-based v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMIT Sloan management review Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 79 - 83
Main Authors Shantz, Amanda, Dempsey-Brench, Kiera
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Sloan Management Review 01.07.2021
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Subjects
Art exhibits
Career development
Employees
Employers
Leadership
Management
Methods
Volunteerism
Volunteers
United States
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Summary:Skills-based volunteering is a growing trend in corporate citizenship, where employees apply their job-related expertise in specialized areas to support charitable causes. This type of volunteering allows participants to develop new skills while making a positive impact. Companies see skills-based volunteering as a win-win-win opportunity, benefiting the nonprofit, the employer, and the volunteer. However, research shows that employees' responses to skills-based volunteering programs can vary. Some employees embrace the opportunity to develop skills, while others reject the idea, feeling that volunteering should be solely about giving back. The difference in responses often depends on how employees interpret their employers' motives. To optimize learning and development gains from skills-based volunteering, leaders should clarify the reasons for supporting such programs, facilitate sensemaking among volunteers, and position volunteering as an integral part of leadership development initiatives.
ISSN:1532-9194