Paid Employee Efforts Are Not Volunteerism

To the Editor:

As part of the Presidents’ Summit on Volunteerism in Philadelphia, I was thrilled at the level of participation and enthusiasm from such a cross section of America. Finally, volunteerism hits the big time.

However, to my dismay, the summit featured discussions and announcements of employees’ being sent on paid time to mentor and of “volunteers” being paid a wage to teach. . . .

It is very risky, and perhaps permanently damaging to volunteerism and the reputation of “giving freely of oneself,” to talk about paid employee efforts as a volunteer effort — instead of the corporate contribution that it is. It will lead to employee lawsuits regarding unfair labor practices and to confusion at workplaces. . . . We need leadership in clarifying what volunteerism really is.

Sharon Foltz
Director of Community Relations
Tucson Electric Power Company
Tucson, Ariz.