TERMINATE OR TOLERATE? Judy M. Groff Program Development Leader NC State University

MYTHS ABOUT VOLUNTEERS  If I ignore the problem, it will go away.  No one else notices.  I can fix a dysfunctional person.  There’s good in everyone…we just need to give them time to show it.  A confrontation will make things worse. They might get mad.

MORE MYTHS  A confrontation might result in the volunteer leaving and if they do, the program will fall apart.  If I’m truly a caring person, I can handle all the people who are problems.  Everyone wants to be fixed.

ISSUES THAT MATTER  Competency  Fulfillment of role  Behavior

REAL SITUATIONS  Health issues  Personal issues  Volunteer burnout

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  Develop a system for making firing decisions.  Consider other options.

ALTERNATIVES TO FIRING  Re-assign to another volunteer role.  Refer to another agency.  Recognize and retire.  Insist on a re-charge time.

SYSTEM FOR FIRING  Forewarning/ notice – Personnel policies – Application and screening process – Job description and mechanism to explain.  Investigation / determination  Application/ follow-through

BENEFITS OF A SYSTEM  Achieve a “right” decision  The decision is defensible in the community.

SCENARIO  Angry volunteer who felt excluded on one activity.  Harassment of faculty over the incident.  Expressed unwanted affection for volunteer coordinator.  Threatened and accused.

PROCESS UTILIZED IN NC  Involved Extension Personnel Director  Wrote letter listing actions that needed to cease.  Letter from Director responding to legitimate accusations.  Warning letter from Director suspending from meetings and other functions.

STRATEGIES TO RENEW ADVISORY MEMBERSHIP  Use a panel of experts to determine keepers.  Send thank-you letter with invitation to a recognition event.  Council operating procedures change.  Accelerate term endings.  Escalate peer expectations.

SUPERVISORY PRACTICES  Use clearly written job descriptions  Train volunteers using the job descriptions  Conduct orientation training about the organization and the job  Conduct competency training  Have operating procedures in place  Incorporate term limits for group members