The Smith Family & Westpac: Understanding the benefits of employee volunteering

Orfeus Research undertook a study of the benefits of employee volunteering for The Smith Family and Westpac. The report, The motivations and benefits of employee volunteering: what do employees think? presented the findings from a survey of employees at Westpac that participated in an employee volunteer program (EVP) with three different not-for-profit organizations in 2002/3. The report evaluates the employee volunteering experience primarily from the employee perspective and examined the reasons employees became involved, whether their expected outcomes were achieved, how participating in the EVP influenced their morale, motivation and skills, and whether it influenced their attitudes to volunteering in the future. The findings will assist organizations improve employee volunteer programs so that they match employee motivations and expectations, and improve employee morale and team work. Overall, the report confirmed that employee volunteer programs can be a win-win proposition in an era when community-corporate partnerships are an increasingly important part of corporate citizenship initiatives.

Download the Employee Volunteer Program Report (1.4mb pdf)