Managing Volunteers in Your Organization...Managing Volunteers in Your Organization The training...
Transcript of Managing Volunteers in Your Organization...Managing Volunteers in Your Organization The training...
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Itisessentialthatyourorganizationmanagesitsvolunteerstominimizetheriskofharmtothecommunitymembersyouareattemptingtoserveandtothevolunteersthemselves.
ManagingVolunteersinYourOrganizationAsanon-profitorganization,mostofyourworkforceisprobablycomprisedofvolunteers.Theseindividualsaredevotingtheirtimeandenergytohelpingthecommunitythroughyourorganization.Thoughtheseindividualsareofferingtheirserviceswithoutexpectingcompensation,theystillrequiresupervisiontoensurethattheirjobsaredonecorrectly.Furthermore,itisessentialthatyourorganizationmanagesitsvolunteerstominimizetheriskofharmtothecommunitymembersyouareattemptingtoserveandtothevolunteersthemselves.
Therearethreetypesofvolunteerliabilitiesthatmayaffectyourorganizationasfollows:
1. Directliability:Theorganizationorvolunteerisliableforanactionorfailingtoact.Thiswouldinclude:
• Notproperlyscreeningvolunteerswhowillworkwithchildren
• Providingvolunteerswithunsafetoolswhiledoingrepairwork
2. Indirect(vicarious)liability:Thenon-profitisliablefortheactionsofavolunteerontheorganization’sbehalf.Thiswouldinclude:
• Volunteerdamagingcitypropertywhileworkingforanorganizationinapark
• Medicalbillsaccruedbyacommunitymemberafteraninjurywhilesupervisedbyavolunteeratanorganization-sponsoredevent
3. StrictLiability:Theneedtodeterminenegligenceisnotnecessarybecauseresponsibilityforinflictingharmisautomatic
TrainingProgramAsanon-profit,itisessentialthatyourorganizationdevelopsatrainingprogramforitsvolunteers.Theprogramwilldependheavilyonthepositionthevolunteerholds,theexperienceheorshebringstotherole,theneedsofthecommunitymember(s)heorsheisservingandthepoliciesyourorganizationhasinplace.
Whileinthetrainingprogram,volunteersshouldbegivenasafetyhandbookoutliningyourorganization’spolicies.Furthermore,theyshouldsignawaiverafterreadingthroughtheorganization’spoliciesandprocedures.
ManagingVolunteersinYourOrganization
Thetrainingprogramshouldalsoincludethefollowing,atminimum:
• Anofficialwelcometotheorganizationandeducationonthehistory,missionstatementandservicesprovided.Outlinethegoalsoftheorganizationandthespecificneedsofthecommunitymembersbeingserviced.
• Provideanoverviewoftheskillsandresponsibilitiesrequiredfortheposition.Ifspecialequipmentisbeingused,asupervisorshouldteachthevolunteerhowtouseituntilthevolunteerfeelscomfortable.
• Explaintheorganization’spoliciesandproceduressuchasreimbursementpoliciesandsexualharassmenttraining.
• Conductasafetybriefingcoveringhowthevolunteercanprotecthim-orherselfandcommunitymembersfromdangerandinjurywhilerepresentingtheorganization.
ManagingVolunteersAftervolunteerscompletethetrainingprogram,itisessentialthatyourstaffmemberscontinuetomonitorandmanagethemthroughouttheirtenureatyourorganization.Ensurethatyourstaffmembersfeelcomfortabledelegatingresponsibilitiestothevolunteersandcorrectingthemiftheymakemistakes.Furthermore,ifavolunteerisactinginappropriately,advisethestaffmemberstodismissthevolunteerbeforeheorsheinflictsharmontoanotherpersonorhim-orherself.
Providemotivationtoyourvolunteerstoworkhardforthecommunity.Encouragethemandpraisethemforgivingittheirall.Inaddition,providethemwithat-shirt,hatorposterasgratitudefortheirhardwork.
ChecklistforSupervisingVolunteersToensurethatyourorganizationisfullypreparedformanagingvolunteers,determineifyournon-profithasthefollowinginplace:
• Adescriptionofallvolunteerpositionsdescribingthetasksanddutiesexpected.
• Maintainanddistributeavolunteersafetyhandbookforuseduringtraining.
• Establishagrievancepolicyintheeventthatvolunteersaredissatisfiedwhileworkingfortheorganization.
• Ensurethatallvolunteerssignawaiveracknowledgingtheorganization’spolicies.
• Establishdisciplinarystandardsforvolunteers.
• Trainallstaffmembersandsupervisorswhocomeincontactwithvolunteersonhowtointeractwiththem.
Ourteamofprofessionalsisheretohelp.Ifyouneedassistancewithestablishingpoliciesforvolunteers,pleasecontactCookeInsuranceGrouptoday.