The purpose of volunteering is to help other people, but those who are being helped aren’t the only ones benefiting from those efforts. Recent research shows that employees who regularly volunteer improve both their physical health and their mental state of well being.
“Through the work performed and the social ties built by volunteering, employees can positively impact their health and the health of the community,” says Sally Stephens, president of Spectrum Health Systems.
Smart Business spoke with Stephens about the benefits of volunteering and how encouraging employees to get involved can help improve their health.
Why should employees consider volunteering to improve their health?
According to Thomas H. Sander, executive director of the Saguaro Seminar at Harvard University, ‘Civic engagement and volunteering is the new hybrid health club for the 21st century that’s free to join.’ Social capital research shows it miraculously improves both your health and that of the community through the work performed and the social ties built. New research from the Mayo Clinic shows that people who volunteer have lower rates of heart disease and live longer. Employees who regularly volunteer, especially through work, report that volunteering made them feel physically healthier and improved their sense of well being.
In what ways does volunteering benefit your health?
A Duke University study found that individuals who volunteered after experiencing heart attacks reported reductions in despair and depression — two factors that have been linked to mortality in post-coronary artery disease patients.
The benefits of volunteering include:
- Creating a positive attitude toward employer and coworkers
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Lowering risk of death
- Encouraging higher levels of engagement
- Providing a deeper sense of pride and purpose
- Keeping one physically active
- Helping maintain a strong social network
Researchers say that to reap the health benefits, strive to volunteer 40 to 100 hours a year, which breaks down to just a few hours a week.
How can employers benefit from encouraging their employees to volunteer?
Studies report that employees who are encouraged to volunteer feel better about their employer because of their involvement in their volunteer activities. Employers can reap the same benefits as employees when their work force is stronger, healthier and less stressed.
Employers who encourage volunteerism among their employees recognize that contributing to the community creates goodwill and develops a person both personally and professionally. A workplace volunteer program is one way to earn that employee loyalty.
Not only can promoting volunteerism affect the health of employees, it can have a significant effect on the organization’s reputation, as the employees who volunteer become ambassadors for the company. Employees want to feel as though their company is making a real difference in the world. The impact of that goes well beyond profits.
