The COVID-19 global pandemic has re-shaped the fabric of our society. Everything we do, from work to play to learning, has been adapted to accommodate social distancing. Now the wide availability of vaccines is slowly beginning to return the world to “normal” as restaurants open, travel begins and in-person school resumes. However, many businesses are discovering a new resistance toward returning to full in-office experience. A recent survey by the Conference Board found that 43% of U.S. workers question the need to return to the office at all, and the percentages were higher for millennials, women and individual contributors.i Another survey by FlexJobs confirms this finding – 65% of workers said they wanted to stay fully remote after the pandemic. Even more surprising – 27% would be willing to take a pay cut of 10 to 20% to keep that benefit.

Implementing a successful volunteer program with a hybrid workforce may not be as straightforward but these tips may help:

Hybrid workforce tip #1 – Offer flexible volunteering opportunities
Whether you plan to offer volunteering opportunities year-round or during a one-time event, make sure to include all of your employees. Remote employees may prefer to participate in virtual volunteering opportunities or, in some cases, local opportunities that are socially distant.

Hybrid workforce tip #2 – Foster a sense of “togetherness” locally
Virtual volunteering may not be quite the same as a team working side-by-side in a soup kitchen, but there are other ways to cultivate a sense of community. Create virtual spaces for connecting and brainstorming such as Slack or a Facebook Group. Appoint local volunteer mentors that can act as a bridge between the company and employees. These mentors can act as a resource for local employees, as well as help coordinate, communicate and recognize local events.

Hybrid workforce tip #3 – Engage employees with Dollars for Doers
Dollars for Doers is another way to encourage employee participation in your volunteer program. It matches each hour of volunteer service with an amount to donate to a nonprofit.

Read the full article about hybrid workforce volunteering by Srinagesh Vitthanala at Bright Funds.