Volunteering boosts employee well being says recent study

Recently released research from Oxford University has done a bit of a 180 on current thinking around employee wellbeing initiatives. The study, involving 46,000 UK employees, uncovers that, unlike traditional wellness programmes, volunteering is the only intervention that genuinely boosts employee well-being.

The sector should be shouting about this research from the rooftops! 

"The dual benefits of corporate volunteering, not only does it support causes like ours, but we can say with authority that it significantly enhances your employees' mental health and job satisfaction, over and above any wellness app, yoga, or relaxation class." 

The message needs to be that corporates see charity engagement not as a mere CSR checkbox but as a strategic tool for staff well-being.

However, it also poses other questions. How do charities support their own employees? Are meaningful staff volunteering opportunities available? Is this an opportunity to collaborate with other charitable organisations to start a staff swap initiative?

Additionally, the research suggests that organisational changes have a greater influence on employee well-being than any wellness programme. Stability and clarity in roles, flexibility, job security, and regular, meaningful support sessions are key to making a significant impact.

Dr William Flemming, the study's lead researcher, puts this perfectly: “Organisations have to change the workplace and not the worker."

Read more about the study here.