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Itisessentialthatyourorganizationmanagesitsvolunteerstominimizetheriskofharmtothecommunitymembersyouareattemptingtoserveandtothevolunteersthemselves.

ManagingVolunteersinYourOrganizationAsanon-profitorganization,mostofyourworkforceisprobablycomprisedofvolunteers.Theseindividualsaredevotingtheirtimeandenergytohelpingthecommunitythroughyourorganization.Thoughtheseindividualsareofferingtheirserviceswithoutexpectingcompensation,theystillrequiresupervisiontoensurethattheirjobsaredonecorrectly.Furthermore,itisessentialthatyourorganizationmanagesitsvolunteerstominimizetheriskofharmtothecommunitymembersyouareattemptingtoserveandtothevolunteersthemselves.

Therearethreetypesofvolunteerliabilitiesthatmayaffectyourorganizationasfollows:

1. Directliability:Theorganizationorvolunteerisliableforanactionorfailingtoact.Thiswouldinclude:

• Notproperlyscreeningvolunteerswhowillworkwithchildren

• Providingvolunteerswithunsafetoolswhiledoingrepairwork

2. Indirect(vicarious)liability:Thenon-profitisliablefortheactionsofavolunteerontheorganization’sbehalf.Thiswouldinclude:

• Volunteerdamagingcitypropertywhileworkingforanorganizationinapark

• Medicalbillsaccruedbyacommunitymemberafteraninjurywhilesupervisedbyavolunteeratanorganization-sponsoredevent

3. StrictLiability:Theneedtodeterminenegligenceisnotnecessarybecauseresponsibilityforinflictingharmisautomatic

TrainingProgramAsanon-profit,itisessentialthatyourorganizationdevelopsatrainingprogramforitsvolunteers.Theprogramwilldependheavilyonthepositionthevolunteerholds,theexperienceheorshebringstotherole,theneedsofthecommunitymember(s)heorsheisservingandthepoliciesyourorganizationhasinplace.

Whileinthetrainingprogram,volunteersshouldbegivenasafetyhandbookoutliningyourorganization’spolicies.Furthermore,theyshouldsignawaiverafterreadingthroughtheorganization’spoliciesandprocedures.

ManagingVolunteersinYourOrganization

Thetrainingprogramshouldalsoincludethefollowing,atminimum:

• Anofficialwelcometotheorganizationandeducationonthehistory,missionstatementandservicesprovided.Outlinethegoalsoftheorganizationandthespecificneedsofthecommunitymembersbeingserviced.

• Provideanoverviewoftheskillsandresponsibilitiesrequiredfortheposition.Ifspecialequipmentisbeingused,asupervisorshouldteachthevolunteerhowtouseituntilthevolunteerfeelscomfortable.

• Explaintheorganization’spoliciesandproceduressuchasreimbursementpoliciesandsexualharassmenttraining.

• Conductasafetybriefingcoveringhowthevolunteercanprotecthim-orherselfandcommunitymembersfromdangerandinjurywhilerepresentingtheorganization.

ManagingVolunteersAftervolunteerscompletethetrainingprogram,itisessentialthatyourstaffmemberscontinuetomonitorandmanagethemthroughouttheirtenureatyourorganization.Ensurethatyourstaffmembersfeelcomfortabledelegatingresponsibilitiestothevolunteersandcorrectingthemiftheymakemistakes.Furthermore,ifavolunteerisactinginappropriately,advisethestaffmemberstodismissthevolunteerbeforeheorsheinflictsharmontoanotherpersonorhim-orherself.

Providemotivationtoyourvolunteerstoworkhardforthecommunity.Encouragethemandpraisethemforgivingittheirall.Inaddition,providethemwithat-shirt,hatorposterasgratitudefortheirhardwork.

ChecklistforSupervisingVolunteersToensurethatyourorganizationisfullypreparedformanagingvolunteers,determineifyournon-profithasthefollowinginplace:

• Adescriptionofallvolunteerpositionsdescribingthetasksanddutiesexpected.

• Maintainanddistributeavolunteersafetyhandbookforuseduringtraining.

• Establishagrievancepolicyintheeventthatvolunteersaredissatisfiedwhileworkingfortheorganization.

• Ensurethatallvolunteerssignawaiveracknowledgingtheorganization’spolicies.

• Establishdisciplinarystandardsforvolunteers.

• Trainallstaffmembersandsupervisorswhocomeincontactwithvolunteersonhowtointeractwiththem.

Ourteamofprofessionalsisheretohelp.Ifyouneedassistancewithestablishingpoliciesforvolunteers,pleasecontactCookeInsuranceGrouptoday.