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New Research on Volunteer Trends for the Baby Boom Generation
New Research on Volunteer Trends for the Baby Boom Generation
Published 11-15-05
Submitted by Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
Published with grant support from Atlantic Philanthropies, the publication provides new research about the aging of the nation's labor force, and suggests ways the private and public sectors can tap into the talent and energy of the Baby Boom generation in their volunteer programs while preparing their own employees for a lifetime of volunteering.
"With nearly one-fifth of the workforce projected to be age 55 or older by 2015, older workers will be essential to the success of both private and public sector organizations," said Jimmie Paschall, executive vice president of external affairs at Volunteers of America. "The findings of this research have important social implications for both for and non-profits, and provide rich insights into the rapidly changing environment with regard to the civic engagement of America's growing senior population."
During the past several decades, employee volunteer programs have emerged as an important component of the American workplace, offering benefits to companies, employees, nonprofit organizations, and local communities. Volunteers of America and The Center for Corporate Citizenship believe employee volunteer programs are likely to expand as organizations move to integrate and align employee volunteer programs into the larger corporate citizenship strategies of their organizations.
The research involved examining the attitudes of 1,000 workers--both retired and active--through focus groups and survey research. Twenty-two companies located throughout the United States and representing a variety of industry sectors participated. Executives within the companies were also interviewed to gain an understanding of the scope of corporate practices and attitudes regarding volunteerism and the role of employees and retirees.
"This research is a clarion call for companies to realize that the value of retired employees must be recognized and nurtured before they stop reporting to work on a daily basis," said Bradley K. Googins, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College. "It also reaffirms the benefits a company receives from the civic engagement of its employees and the importance of maintaining good will with retirees and making them a strategic part of a corporate volunteer program."
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Key findings from the research include:
The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College is a membership-based research organization committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, The Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, executive education and the insights of its 350 corporate partners, The Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. For more information about The Center for Corporate Citizenship, please visit www.bc.edu/corporatecitizenship.
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, spiritually based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. It is one of the largest nonprofit providers of quality affordable housing and last year served nearly 2 million people in need. Volunteers of America nurtures, supports and uplifts the human spirit--working with children and youth, the elderly, homeless individuals and families, and others to empower them in reaching their full potential. For more information about Volunteers of America, please visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.
The publication Expanding the Boundaries of Corporate Volunteerism is available online at www.bc.edu/corporatecitizenship or www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship connects professionals with research, insights on corporate social responsibility and management education opportunities. Founded by the Carroll School of Management, we help our member companies know more, do more and achieve more with their corporate citizenship programs. We engage over 400 member companies and more than 10,000 individuals annually to share knowledge and expertise about the practice of corporate citizenship through our executive education program, research, courses, and our annual conference. For more information on our courses, research and membership, visit ccc.bc.edu. Connect with Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship: Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook & Google+.
