How Volunteerism Enhances Workplace Skills

The idea of fostering learning through service is surprisingly controversial. Employers should plan carefully.

Amanda Shantz and Kiera Dempsey-Brench

April 28, 2021

The Research

• The authors studied two European financial institutions, examining relevant internal documents, attending meetings about volunteering programs, and participating in four workshops with active volunteers.
• They also conducted formal interviews with the companies’ corporate relations teams, facilitated six focus groups consisting of 28 volunteers, and interviewed 30 volunteers across four locations (Dublin; London; Cardiff, Wales; and Edinburgh, Scotland).
• They then analyzed the archival, focus group, and interview data for ...