How to Ask Your Employer for Paid Time Off to Volunteer
December 7, 2022 | Written by Lindsey Barta
What is paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)?
Did you know it’s possible to get paid time off from your employer to volunteer? According to SHRM's 2019 Employee Benefits Survey, 26% of employers offer paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO), and that number has been steadily trending upward, up from 21% in 2014.
What could compel over 1 in 4 employers to offer this unique benefit? Like those of us at Magnified Giving, they understand that giving and service offers numerous benefits to our health and well-being. Those benefits help people feel more energized and inspired in every area of their lives, including the workplace. Because many volunteer opportunities take place during the work day, offering paid time off affords employees the opportunity to take advantage of meaningful daytime volunteer opportunities without worrying about forfeiting pay. When employers offer paid VTO, they’re removing barriers to service, which has benefits for their employees, the community, and their own bottom line.
Magnified Giving alumna Zai Johns packs gifts bags at Magnified Giving during her paid volunteer day!
Paid VTO policies vary, with benefits ranging from 8-40 hours of paid time off each year. Zai Johns, an alumna of Magnified Giving from Mount Notre Dame High School, used her VTO to spend a day at Magnified Giving putting together notes and gifts of gratitude for our donors. Her company, Cengage, offers 1 full day of paid time off each year. Other organizations offer 8-40 hours that can be taken in increments, allowing workers to take a few hours at a time for specific volunteer activities or events.
Asking About Paid Time Off to Volunteer in Job Interview
If you’re interviewing for jobs, consider asking if the company has a Volunteer Time Off policy, and let them know if this is a meaningful benefit to you. Before your interview, look into the culture and values of the organization. Bringing up community and volunteerism by asking about paid VTO may be a good opportunity for you to demonstrate how you align with the values of the organization. For instance, Starbucks upholds that their mission is to “To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.” Therefore, in an interview, perhaps when the interviewers ask if you have any questions, you might say,
“I know that Starbucks’ mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit, especially by strengthening communities. I also care about supporting others and making a difference in my community, and I was involved in a philanthropy program in school called Magnified Giving, where I learned how much I value giving of my time, talent, and treasure. With this in mind, I was wondering if the company has a Volunteer Time Off policy, or other programs that support employees giving back to the community?”
If you don’t see a way to tie the company’s values into service, community, or volunteerism, simply ask whether the company offers Volunteer Time Off or other volunteer or community initiatives for employees, and let them know that you’re part of a growing number of potential workers that finds this meaningful. While 26% of employers across all sectors offer this benefit, paid VTO is considerably more prevalent in the financial services and high tech industries, where it is offered by 72% of companies, and it is least likely in health care and manufacturing (U.S. News & World Report). No matter what sector you’re in, it’s worth asking a potential employer about this benefit.
How to Ask Your Employer About Offering Paid VTO
If your current company doesn’t offer Volunteer Time Off, consider letting your supervisor know if this is something that you would value and that would have benefits for your organization. Here are a few ways to talk to your employer about offering paid time off to volunteer:
Share the basics.
If your employer isn’t familiar with paid VTO, tell them a few of the basics from this article, including what it is and examples of different VTO policies. Be sure to let them know that it’s growing in prevalence, with over 1 in 4 employers now offering it as a benefit!
Share why it is important to you.
Most employers care about what their employees want and really do wish to understand how they can help their employees thrive. Tell them why philanthropy is important to you, and explain how service has impacted your life, and then tell them honestly what you would like to see in a VTO policy.
Show them how it benefits the company.
This article from U.S. News & World Report explains several benefits for organizations and companies who choose to offer VTO:
It can help you attract top talent. An increasing number of workers care about working for a company with strong community and social responsibility, and offering paid VTO is one way for a company to improve this aspect of their culture.
Volunteerism promotes health and life satisfaction, which is linked to greater productivity at work. “A 2020 study of 70,000 participants in the United Kingdom found that volunteering is associated with improved health and life satisfaction. By encouraging their workers to volunteer, companies may be able to boost the mental health of workers while reaping benefits themselves” (LaPonsie, 2022).”
It enables your business to give back to the community.
Be understanding that, depending on the size of your organization, your supervisor may not have the authority to create this policy, but they can share your desires with the right people and help make your voice heard. Change happens when enough people speak up and express a desire! If your company sends out an annual satisfaction survey or has other avenues of soliciting feedback, consider making a suggestion about offering paid VTO.
At Magnified Giving, we’re excited about educating young people in philanthropy and helping you and your peers grow and thrive as philanthropists in every stage of your life. We hope this resource helps you to gain new opportunities to give of your time, talent and treasure! For more resources, learn about the Magnified Giving Alumni Network here.