Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers

While there are no set requirements to join a group of volunteers, volunteers have their own set of rights and responsibilities which often mirror those of paid staff. 

Rights include:

• The right to be treated with respect
• The right to be assigned to work that can be a learning experience
• The right to be honored for their contributions
• The right to have the same working conditions as staff doing similar tasks
• The right to participate in training that will enhance their job performance and personal development
• The right to be informed about activities and changes in schedules
• The right to express grievances

Equally as important as a volunteer’s rights are his/her responsibilities:

• The responsibility to invest in the volunteer experience as a learning opportunity
• The responsibility to attend orientation, reflection and advocacy/educational sessions for volunteers
• The responsibility to be punctual, regular in attendance and to perform assigned tasks
• The responsibility to communicate with the Student Coordinator and agency volunteer coordinator if unable to attend (and if driving a vehicle to let the appropriate people know)
• The responsibility to treat all others with respect and develop a positive working relationship with staff and guests
• The responsibility to adhere to all policies, procedures and areas of confidentiality
• The responsibility to communicate immediately with on-site staff if a problematic incident occurs
• The responsibility to communicate concerns about the volunteer experience with appropriate staff members either at CCSJ or the community agency
• The responsibility to fill out requested evaluation forms as well as to make constructive suggestions for improvement about the volunteer experience