Suite101

Volunteer-Staff Relations


© Ella Marin
Page 2

Nov 30, 1999


Volunteers
Volunteers, too, need an orientation where an overview of the organization is given. Their job expectations need to be made clear, as well as their role in the organization as compared to the role of the staff. If yours is a service organization, volunteers often serve as extensions to overburdened, underpaid staff. They may feel that the organization does not care about what it does, because they often develop closer relationships to clients than do staff. Or they may think they can do the job better than a paid staff member with years of training. They need to be told-kindly-that they have the luxury of spending time with one person week after week (a service which is highly appreciated) while a social worker keeps a case file that is twenty strong (which is also a very important job.)

If volunteers and staff can learn to appreciate and complement each other's roles, the organization, and the people or things it serves, will benefit.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
1.   Jan 28, 2001 3:48 PM
I just moved here not long ago and this is the first time I've had problems in volunteering. I wanted to get involved in the community so started attending community forums and meeting. It just so h ...

-- posted by malyme



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