Despite the overwhelming majority of voluntary sector employees, surveyed by SCVO, saying that they are satisfied in their current job, over 50 per cent of respondents still said they would be seeking new roles in the next 12 months.
One-fifth said that they want to stay in the voluntary sector while 29 per cent are looking for a new role in any sector. Just 4 per cent are hoping for a promotion at their current organisation.
SCVO's Workforce Survey 2015 found that voluntary sector employees have some of the highest levels of job satisfaction, but heavy workloads, poor job security and low wages are forcing many to look for new jobs.
While two thirds of respondents felt that they were paid “a fair wage” in comparison to other charities, only half of respondents felt that their wage was fair considering the amount of work they did. Over two thirds of respondents also felt that they could earn more money for similar roles in a different sector.
An apparent lack of opportunities for progression within organisations was also highlighted by respondents as a reason to be dissatisfied working in the sector. The survey found that limited opportunities for promotion affected small and large organisations equally.
Respondents also criticised what they perceived as a “culture within the sector that expects staff to work beyond contracted hours for free”. Over half of respondents indicated that they ‘often’ worked unpaid extra hours.
The survey also found that over 130,000 people were employeed in the voluntary sector in some capacity in Scotland. The survey also found that there are 250,000 trustees who support the various charities.
The survey, the first of its kind held in the sector since 1999, found that 90 per cent of its 900 respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with “having meaningful, worthwhile work”. Some 75 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied “with general job satisfaction”. Both of those statistics were significantly higher than those found in the public and private sectors.
While ‘work-life balance’ in voluntary employees was also statistically higher than those in other sectors - 60 per cent of respondents felt they had a good work-life balance – the survey authors still found that to be low and “surprising” given the “sector is one that makes much of its work-life balance values.”
“We’ve identified two key trends here. On the one hand people working in charities are generally very enthusiastic about the work they do, the people they work with and making a real difference to other people’s lives." John Downie, director of public affairs at SCVO said.
“But on the other hand, when it comes to factors beyond our sector’s control, such as funding cuts, welfare changes and the legacy of the economic crisis which have led to low pay, job losses and working extra hours to keep up with demand, we’re understandably seeing strong frustration among staff."
