The surprising effect of volunteerism in the workplace
For years, employers have focused their energy on encouraging their employees to eat healthy and exercise — whether it was through various interoffice challenges, weekly emails or flyers posted in each break room.
The assumption was that if your company placed an emphasis on physical health, your employees would follow suit and make lifestyle changes. This would lower their health care costs and increase engagement and productivity in their work.
If only that were the case.
While promoting healthy diets and workplace movement is great, it shouldn’t be the focal point. Healthy employees are happier, perform better and are less absent from your workplace when their six elements of well-being are addressed.
Workplace volunteering benefits employee emotional health
Volunteering may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about improving employee well-being, but the impacts on your business and your employees' health go beyond doing a good deed.
“Volunteering has a positive impact on well-being — especially from an emotional standpoint," said Amy Gould, employer health and well-being consultant.
Employers can address the emotional aspect of their employees' well-being by offering benefits that support volunteering. According to The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Research, giving employees time off to volunteer has increased among U.S. companies, reaching 28 percent in 2024. Almost half of the companies surveyed offered community volunteer programs as a workplace benefit.
How does employee volunteering help your business?
1.
Increases employee engagement and retention
When your employees participate in hands-on volunteer opportunities as a group, they can build new and strong connections with their co-workers. When employees are socially connected at work, they are more likely to be engaged and stay in their role.
2.
It promotes and improves leadership
When employees step outside of their day-to-day roles into volunteer responsibilities, they have a chance to lead others.
3.
Attracts prospective talent
Are you looking to hire more talent? Showing that your company supports employees volunteering, or offers employee volunteering benefits, can attract the prospective talent you’re seeking for your business.
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"With such a wide variety of ways for you to incorporate a volunteer program for your employees — from paid time off and recognition opportunities for giving back — it can be overwhelming to know where to start," said Gould. "We can help you identify ways to implement volunteer opportunities to meet your goals and align with your culture."
Does volunteering actually contribute to the health of your employees?
It sure does! According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, researchers have found that volunteering has a number of health benefits — from lowering stress, boosting self-confidence and more — these are all fundamental for your employees to feel their best when they come to work.
1.
Employees are less likely to be depressed
Volunteerism can help your employees increase their social interactions and build a system of support based on common interests.
2.
Gives your employees a sense of purpose and teaches valuable skills
Maybe you have a few employees in your workplace who are struggling to figure out what they want to do, what they are passionate about or ways to find belonging — volunteering can help with that. Not to mention, it can help them develop new and valuable skills to bring into the workplace.
3.
Reduces stress levels
When employees volunteer, they are exposed to social situations that naturally reduce stress and risk of diseases. When employees savor time spent in service to others, they feel a sense of meaning and appreciation.
4.
Improves employee health
Studies have shown that people who volunteer live longer. Researchers also say that employees within your office with chronic or serious illnesses can experience improved health from volunteering.
How you can increase volunteerism in your workplace
Investing in your employees’ well-being pays off. Not only does it lead to higher retention rates, but it also lowers health care costs. Whether your organization has years of experience or needs deeper insights, Wellmark can help.
At Wellmark, we aren’t just interested in providing programs to help remind your employees to eat a healthy, balanced diet or to get their daily dose of exercise. While physical health is important, we support all pillars of health. From programs that boost physical and mental health, build resiliency, improve financial literacy, and more — we offer proven solutions that empower employees to develop healthier habits and thrive in all areas of life.
Interested in learning more about how employee well-being can positively impact your organization? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative today, or email us at blueatwork@Wellmark.com.
Article resources
Bansi, D., Petkari, E., Sánchez-Gutiérrez, T., et al. (2025). A systematic review of how volunteering relates to job satisfaction and job performance. Discover Psychology, 5, Article 90.