Volunteers' Rights and Responsibilities
As a volunteer, you have the right:
- To receive accurate information about the organisation and its policy and/or philosophy on volunteers.
- To receive a clearly written, comprehensive job description.
- To have a reasonable understanding of lines of accountability.
- To be seen as belonging - through inclusion at meetings, social functions, etc.
- To be seen as an individual, deserving of individual support while performing your role.
- To receive proper training, initially and on an on-going basis.
- To know who to turn to with problems and difficulties.
- To have your work valued by the organisation.
- To regularly receive constructive feedback. -
- To be trusted with confidential information if it is necessary in order to carry out your job.
- To be safe on the job.
- To be covered by insurance.
- To have choices.
- To be able to negotiate.
- To be able to say No.
- To carry out your role without being exploited.
- To be taken seriously.
- To be informed of the organisation’s policy on reimbursement of volunteer transportation costs.
- To be consulted on matters which directly or indirectly affect you and your work.
As a volunteer, you have the responsibility:
- To arrive on time.
- To be reliable
- To notify the appropriate person in the organisation if you are not available, or running late.
- To agree to the organisation’s policy on volunteers.
- To respect confidentiality.
- To respect the rights of the patients or residents and other workers in the organisation.
- To have a non-judgmental approach.
- To represent the interests of the organisation - not yourself.
- To carry out the specified job description.
- To give feedback, communicating relevant and important information.
- To be accountable and to accept evaluation.
- To be committed to the program.
- To recognise personal and external limitations on commitment.
- To acknowledge decisions made by staff.
- To undertake training and have a good understanding of the organisation.
- To address areas of conflict with the appropriate staff member, the coordinator of volunteers.
- To ask for support when it is needed.