Employees will have the right to three days of paid leave to volunteer under a Conservative government, David Cameron has announced.
This bid to revive the “big society” campaign will affect companies with more than 250 staff members, which is half of the UK workforce. The Tory leader said: “This is the clearest demonstration of the big society in action – and I’m proud it’s a Conservative government that will deliver it.”
What does it mean for the voluntary sector, however? Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, and Asheem Singh, director of public policy at Acevo, think this is a exciting proposal for the voluntary sector and businesses.
Etherington said: “Many charities urgently need more volunteers to support their work, while volunteering is an excellent way for employees to develop skills and confidence that will benefit their employers. Anything that helps encourage our culture of volunteering is very welcome. We look forward to seeing the detail of the proposal.”
Singh said: “It recognises the crucial role of charities in building a better society. The workplace is a new frontier for social action, and this new legal right will help support a new generation of socially responsible citizens.”
However, some people on Twitter question the Conservatives’ agenda with this policy, arguing that it is just another way to fill gaps in public services.
@GdnVoluntary Not good because it's not voluntary - they are getting paid. It's the business sector paying to plug gaps in govt services
— rwilliams (@BarbieBunnykins) April 10, 2015
So Cameron is pledging 'volunteering leave'. Yeah, cos no one is volunteering already to deliver the services local government used to.
— Saltern (@Saltern) April 10, 2015
Oonagh Aitken, chief executive of CSV, said: “As an organisation with an established employee volunteering programme, we know the benefits to employees, the workplace and communities.”
She does, however, argue that: “If this policy is to be implemented, it highlights the need to invest in volunteering organisations so that the best use is made of employees’ skills and interests when they do volunteer.”
Surely this is an oxymoron? | Cameron pledges 'paid volunteering leave' http://t.co/2wCjwIL30J
— Abul Siddiky (@AbulSiddiky) April 10, 2015
What do you think? Is this the answer to charities’ volunteering needs? Does it put more pressure on the sector? Or does it risk giving volunteering a bad name? Tell us in the comment section below.
