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Corporate volunteering in the construction industry: motivations, costs and benefits

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  • Martin Loosemore
  • Jemma Bridgeman

Abstract

Corporate volunteering is a growing global phenomenon. Despite the size and significance of the construction industry, there has been no research into corporate volunteering in this sector which presents special challenges around its highly transitionary, temporary, regulated and project-based culture. To address this gap in knowledge and to answer the need for more scholarship and sector-specific insights in this field, the motives, benefits and costs of corporate volunteering for construction businesses and the volunteers that work for them are explored. Through an in-depth single case study of one of the UK’s largest construction industry corporate volunteering programmes, it is shown that at an individual level, it is not always altruism that motives people to volunteer. Volunteers in construction are also motivated by other factors such as loyalty to their organization, profession and industry, relational/networking opportunities and the reinforcement of technical skills and personal satisfaction derived from helping others which is not normally afforded in work. At a business level the main benefits of volunteering are reputational advantage, recruitment and new skills and access to new knowledge and capabilities. Conceptually, the results indicate that systems theory, empowerment theory, life span theory and social exchange theory would be useful theoretical lenses to take research in this new area of corporate social responsibility forward. It is concluded that further research is needed into different types of volunteering programmes and whether individual benefits experienced by volunteers translate into commercial benefits for the organizations involved.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Loosemore & Jemma Bridgeman, 2017. "Corporate volunteering in the construction industry: motivations, costs and benefits," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(10), pages 641-653, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:35:y:2017:i:10:p:641-653
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2017.1315150
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    1. Commission, Productivity, 2010. "Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector," Research Reports, Productivity Commission, Government of Australia, number 39.
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    1. Güzide Karakuş, 2023. "A Research on Reasons Leading to Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing Practices and Their Effects," International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development (IJSESD), IGI Global, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Ana Lor-Serrano & Luisa Esteban-Salvador, 2021. "An Approach to Corporate Volunteering in Spain," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Loredana Nicoleta Zainea & Sorin-George Toma & Dragoș Tohănean, 2019. "Volunteering, A Skills Incubator for Future Organizations," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 205-211, December.
    4. Afkhami, Ahmad & Nasr Isfahani, Ali & Abzari, Mahdi & Teimouri, Hadi, 2018. "Antecedents of Employee Participation in Employer-Supported Volunteering Activities: A Systematic Literature Review (in Persian)," Management and Development Process Quarterly (٠صلنامه ٠رایند مدیریت و توسعه), Institute for Management and Planning studies, vol. 31(3), pages 111-150, December.

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