Volunteers are not Volunteering to Sacrifice their Objectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00069Keywords:
Volunteering, motivation, learning and development opportunities, retentionAbstract
The retention of volunteers is a worldwide growing concern for non-profit organizations. It is relatively less explored in third-world countries, where working styles, norms, cultural issues, the attitude of people toward social causes, and labor policies are different from those in developed nations. This research is designed to address the problem, and interestingly, the results of the study guide to make an in-depth study to conclude valuable recommendations for volunteering organizations. The existing literature related to the reasons for volunteers’ dissatisfaction is limited. The objective of this study is to explore the grounds for the discontentment of volunteers by not availing them of the desired objectives. Data was collected through qualitative interviews with volunteer workers, HR managers, and executives working in different non-profit organizations in Pakistan that are serving the local community in various areas, including medical, education, nutrition, environment, grooming the potential of youth, etc. The analysis of the data explores considerable causes pertaining to the dissatisfaction of volunteers that ultimately causes poor retention.
References
Abideen, Z. U., & Abbas, F. (2021). Believers, Islamic Brotherhood and Mosque-Based Emotional and Informal Social Support System among Muslims in Pakistan. Journal of religion, spirituality & aging, 33(1), 54-85.
Aisbett, L., & Hoye, R. (2015). Human resource management practices to support sport event volunteers. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 53(3), 351–369.
Alfes, K., Antunes, B., & Shantz, A. D. (2017). The management of volunteers – what can human resources do? A review and research agenda. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(1), 62–97.
Alfes, K., Shantz, A., & Bailey, C. (2016). Enhancing volunteer engagement to achieve desirable outcomes: What can non-profit employers do?. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 27(2), 595-617.
Allison, L. D., Okun, M. A., & Dutridge, K. S. (2002). Assessing Volunteer Motives: A Comparison of an Open-ended Probe and Likert Rating Scales. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 12(4), 243–252.
Arshad, M., Abid, G., & Khan, M. (2020). Impact of employee’s environmental concern on ecological green behaviour: Mediation mechanism of employee customer-oriented OCB and organisational commitment. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 14(12), 614-633.
Arshad, M., Abid, G., & Torres, F. V. C. (2021). Impact of prosocial motivation on organizational citizenship behavior: The mediating role of ethical leadership and leader–member exchange. Quality & Quantity, 55, 133-150.
Arshad, M., Abid, G., Contreras, F., Elahi, N. S., & Ahmed, S. (2022). Greening the hospitality sector: Employees' environmental and job attitudes predict ecological behavior and satisfaction. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 102, 103173.
Arshad, M.; Abid, G.; Contreras, F.; Elahi, N.; Athar, M. Impact of Prosocial Motivation on Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Managerial Support. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2021, 11, 0032.
Arshad, S., & Ali, A. (2016). Trade-off between Inflation, Interest and Unemployment Rate of Pakistan: Revisited. Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), 5(4), 193-209.
Bartram, T., Cavanagh, J., & Hoye, R. (2017). The growing importance of human resource management in the NGO, volunteer and not-for-profit sectors. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(14), 1901–1911.
Cady, S. H., Brodke, M., Kim, J. H., & Shoup, Z. D. (2018). Volunteer motivation: A field study examining why some do more, while others do less. Journal of Community Psychology, 46(3), 281-292.
Cameron, J., & Karen, L , Newton , Bell, S. (2014). Learning and Development Opportunities as a Tool for the Retention of Volunteers : A motivational perspective Associate Professor Cameron Newton Dr Karen Becker * Ms Sarah Bell School of Management , QUT Business School ,. Human Resource Management Journal, 24(4), 514–530.
Cerdin, C. B.-L. (2018). HRM in Mission Driven Organizations:Managing People in the Not for Profit Sector. (J.-L. (Eds. Brewster, Chris, Cerdin, Ed.) (1st ed.). Paris: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Clary, E., Snyder, M., Ridge, R., & Copeland, J Snyder, M Arthur A, Stukes Haugen, J Miene, P. (1998). Understanding and assessing the motivation of volunteers: A functional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(6), 1516–1530.
Connolly, S., & O’shea, E. (2015). The Perceived Benefits of Participating in Voluntary Activities Among Older People: Do They Differ by Volunteer Characteristics? Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 39(2), 95–108.
De Massis, A., & Kotlar, J. (2014). The case study method in family business research: Guidelines for qualitative scholarship. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 5(1), 15–29.
Dem, E. S., Rodríguez-Labajos, B., Wiemers, M., Ott, J., Hirneisen, N., Bustamante, J. V., ... & Settele, J. (2018). Understanding the relationship between volunteers’ motivations and learning outcomes of citizen science in rice ecosystems in the Northern Philippines. Paddy and Water Environment, 1-11.
Diamond, S. D. (2017). An exploratory study of the motivation and retention of adult high-functioning volunteers in community-based non-profit organizations. Kansas State University.
Doody O, N. M. (2013). Preparing and conducting interviews to collect data. Doody O, Noonan M.
Edwards, R., & Holland, J. (2013). What is Qualitative Interviewing?“What is?” Research Methods Series (Vol. 7).
Faletehan, A. F., van Burg, E., Thompson, N. A., & Wempe, J. (2021). Called to volunteer and stay longer: The significance of work calling for volunteering motivation and retention. Voluntary Sector Review, 12(2), 235-255.
Fallon, B. J., & Rice, S. M. (2015). Investment in staff development within an emergency services organisation: Comparing future intention of volunteers and paid employees. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(4), 485–500.
Farrell, M. (2018). Leadership reflections: Organizational culture. Journal of Library Administration, 58(8), 861-872.
Fényes, H., Markos, V., & Mohácsi, M. (2021). Volunteering among Higher Education Students as Part of Individual Career Management. Corvinus Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 12(2), 3-22.
Gaber, J., Clark, R. E., Lamarche, L., Datta, J., Talat, S., Bomze, S., ... & Mangin, D. (2022). Understanding volunteer retention in a complex, community‐centred intervention: A mixed methods study in Ontario, Canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), 2259-2269.
Gooch, M. (2004). Volunteering in catchment management groups: Empowering the volunteer. Australian Geographer, 35(2), 193–208.
Hopkins, B., & Dowell, D. (2021). Recruitment and retention in not-for-profit organisations: tailored strategies for younger and older volunteers. Employee Relations: The International Journal.
Katz, E. (1960). The Functional Approach to the Study of Attitudes. Public Opinion Quarterly, 24(2), 163–204.
Laczo, R. M., & Hanisch, K. A. (1999). An examination of behavioral families of organizational withdrawal in volunteer workers and paid employees. Human Resource Management Review, 9(4), 453–477.
Littlepage, L., Gazley, B., & Bennett, T. A. (2012). Service learning from the supply side: Community capacity to engage students. Nonprofit management and leadership, 22(3), 305-320.
Lynch, John W, Jeesica B, R. (2016). Perceptions of Employee Volunteering : Is It “ Credited ” or “ Stigmatized ” By Colleagues ? Academy of Management Journal, 59(2), 611–635.
Martellos, S., Pittao, E., Cesaroni, D., Mereu, A., Petruzzella, D., Pinzari, M., ... & Attorre, F. (2021). Volunteers Recruitment, Retention, and Performance during the CSMON-LIFE (Citizen Science MONitoring) Project and 3 Years of Follow-Up. Sustainability, 13(19), 11110.
Meier, S., & Stutzer, A. (2008). Is volunteering a reward in itself? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 75(297), 39–59.
Millette, V. (2005). Designing Volunteers Tasks to Maximize Motivation, Satisfaction and Performance; The impact of job characteristics on the outcomes of volunteer involment.
Myers, M. D., & Newman, M. (2007). The qualitative interview in IS research: Examining the craft. Information and Organization, 17(1), 2–26.
Nisar, S., Asif, R., & Ali, A. (2021). Testing the Presence of the January Effect in Developed Economies. Journal of Finance and Accounting Research (JFAR), 3(2), 1-16.
Pages, M., Fischer, A., & Van der Wal, R. (2018). The dynamics of volunteer motivations for engaging in the management of invasive plants: Insights from a mixed-methods study on Scottish seabird islands. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 61(5-6), 904-923.
Rimes, H., Nesbit, R., Christensen, R. K., & Brudney, J. L. (2017). Exploring the Dynamics of Volunteer and Staff Interactions: From Satisfaction to Conflict. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 28(2), 195-213.
Robinson, J. A., Kocman, D., Speyer, O., & Gerasopoulos, E. (2021). Meeting volunteer expectations—a review of volunteer motivations in citizen science and best practices for their retention through implementation of functional features in CS tools. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64(12), 2089-2113.
Rodell, J. B. (2013). Finding meaning through volunteering: why do employees volunteer and what d...: Discovery Service for TRU. Academy of Management Journal, 56(5), 1274–1294. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2012.0611 T4 - Why do employees volunteer and what does it mean for their jobs? M4 - Citavi
Rogalsky, K., Doherty, A., & Paradis, K. F. (2016). Understanding the sport event volunteer experience: an investigation of role ambiguity and its correlates. Journal of Sport Management, 30(4), 453-469.
Saksida, T., Alfes, K., & Shantz, A. (2017). Volunteer Role Mastery and Commitment: Can HRM Make a Difference? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(14), 2062–2084.
Selden, S. C., & Sowa, J. E. (2015). Voluntary turnover in nonprofit human service organizations: The impact of high performance work practices. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 39(3), 182-207.
Skoglund, A. G. (2006). Do not forget about your volunteers: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing volunteer turnover. Health and Social Work.
Smith, M. Brewster Bruner, Jerome S. White, R. W. (1956). Opinions and Personality (1st Editio). John Wiley & Sons.
Stephen L. Smith Celatha J. Grove. (2017). Disaster Response Volunteering With The American Red Cross. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 27(3), 353–369.
Studer, S., & von Schnurbein, G. (2013). Organizational Factors Affecting Volunteers: A Literature Review on Volunteer Coordination. Published by Springer New York LLC.
Stukas, A. A., Hoye, R., Nicholson, M., Brown, K. M., & Aisbett, L. (2016). Motivations to Volunteer and Their Associations With Volunteers’ Well-Being. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45(1), 112–132.
Walk, M., Handy, F., & Schinnenburg, H. (2013). Expectations and experiences of young employees: The case of German nonprofits. Administration in Social Work, 37(2), 133-146.
Welty Peachey, J., Lyras, A., Cohen, A., Bruening, J. E., & Cunningham, G. B. (2014). Exploring the Motives and Retention Factors of Sport-For-Development Volunteers. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 43(6), 1052–1069.
Wright, D. R., Underhill, L. G., Keene, M., & Knight, A. T. (2015). Understanding the Motivations and Satisfactions of Volunteers to Improve the Effectiveness of Citizen Science Programs. Society and Natural Resources, 28(9), 1013–1029.
