Safe Volunteering: The Ups And Downs Of Corporate Social Responsibility

Employee volunteering is a relatively new concept in Ireland, but for many years companies across the world have recognised their responsibilities to their stakeholders and the impact that they have on the local community through their CSR practices. Given the risks that are involved with certain volunteering activities, it is imperative that employers know the extent of their duties and responsibilities, in respect of health and safety, toward employees engaging in employer endorsed volunteering projects.

Volunteering - Scope of employment

Whether employee volunteering comes within the scope of an employee's employment will depend on the facts of the case. Of course, it may be very easy to determine if volunteering is outside the scope of employment such as when employees volunteer on their own time in the evening or weekends. But consider the situation where an employer has a partnership with a charity and provides opportunities for employees to volunteer in the evening or weekends? Does the employer - employee relationship still exist in this context?

Responsibility to Employees

There are two main considerations for organisations who allow their employees to act as volunteers. Firstly, there is the common law "duty of care" and secondly, there are statutory obligations.

Common Law

Employers have a duty of care to their employees under common law. The modern concept...