Volunteering adds benefits that drive bottom line

Volunteering programmes in the workplace see added benefits that drive directly to their bottom line, according to a new study from UnitedHealthGroup and the Optum Institute.

Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study reveals that 76% of US adults who volunteer report that volunteering has made them feel physically healthier, and 78% report that volunteering lowers their levels of stress, leading to feeling better than adults who do not volunteer.

The study also illustrates that employers benefit from employees who volunteer in terms of better employee health and in professional-skills development that employees use in the workplace. The study explored the relationship between volunteerism and health, and looked at the role employers play in encouraging volunteerism.

It surveyed more than 3,300 US adults, and forms part of UnitedHealth Group’s continued effort to support volunteerism, understand its impact on health, and strengthen employees’ connections to the communities where they live and work.

“The business community, the health sector, individuals and families all have a stake in building a healthier future, and that begins with improving our communities’ health in ways that are sustainable and affordable,” said Dr. Carol Simon, director of the Optum Institute. The health benefits volunteers enjoy also benefit the workplace – employers can expect lower health care costs and higher productivity from employees who volunteer, the research shows.

“These findings show that the benefits of volunteering help strengthen communities and have real, measurable health benefits for the people who volunteer,” said Kate Rubin, UnitedHealth Group vice president of Social Responsibility. “Employers enjoy the benefits of physically and mentally healthier employees; those that support volunteering programs in the workplace see added benefits that drive directly to their bottom line.”