Volunteer Rights and Organizational Responsibilities

Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers and Organizations

Both the volunteer and the organization have responsibilities to each other. The volunteer contracts to perform a specific job, and the organization contracts to provide the volunteer with a worthwhile and rewarding experience. In return, each has the right to some basic expectations of the other.

Volunteers Have the Right To:

• Professional Treatment: To be treated as co-workers, including access to job descriptions, equal employment opportunity, occupational health and safety, anti-discrimination legislation, and organizational grievance processes.
• Privacy: To be asked for permission before any job-related reference, police, or prohibited person checks are conducted.
• Meaningful Work: A task or job worthwhile to them, for no more than 16 hours a week on a regular basis.
• Transparency: Know the purpose and “ground rules” of the organization.
• Training: Appropriate orientation and training for the job.
• Communication: Be kept informed of organizational changes and the reasons for such changes.
• Resources: A place to work and suitable tools.
• Reimbursement: Payment for agreed-upon expenses.
• Participation: Be heard and make suggestions.
• Insurance: Personal accident insurance in place of workers' compensation insurance.
• Recognition: A verbal reference or statement of service, if appropriate.

Organizations Have the Right To:

• Service Standards: Receive as much effort and service from a volunteer worker as a paid worker, even on a short-term basis.
• Screening: Select the best volunteer for the job by interviewing and screening all applicants. This might include reference and police checks and, where appropriate, prohibited person checks for roles that involve working directly with children.
• Compliance: Expect volunteers to adhere to their job descriptions and the organization's code of practice.
• Safety and Training: Expect volunteers to undertake training provided for them and observe safety rules.
• Placement: Make the decision regarding the best placement of a volunteer.
• Feedback: Express opinions about poor volunteer effort in a diplomatic way, expect loyalty to the organization, expect only constructive criticism, and expect clear and open communication from the volunteer.
• Negotiation: Negotiate work assignments.
• Termination: Release volunteers under certain circumstances.