Employers and employees may be missing opportunities when it comes to reaping all of the benefits of volunteering in the workplace. Deloitte's "2017 Volunteerism Survey" of working Americans found that creating a culture of volunteerism may boost morale, workplace atmosphere and brand perception. However, surveyed employees do not view volunteerism as a way to advance their career or develop new skills. 

According to the survey, nearly 9 out of 10 (89 percent) working Americans believe that companies who sponsor volunteer activities offer a better overall working environment than those who do not. In fact, 70 percent of respondents say that volunteer activities are more likely to boost employee morale than company-sponsored happy hours, and 77 percent say, "volunteering is essential to employee well-being."

Despite the halo effect that comes with active volunteerism, just 38 percent of respondents say that their employers provide access to company-sponsored or coordinated volunteer programs. In addition, 69 percent say they are not volunteering as much as they would like to, and of those respondents, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) say they cannot dedicate time during the day to volunteering. 

"It appears that many employees understand the value of volunteering and have the desire to do more, but they aren't reaping the full benefits," said Doug Marshall, managing director of corporate citizenship, Deloitte LLP. "Employers have an opportunity to build on their volunteerism programs by creating a culture that celebrates volunteering and empowers volunteers to be more active."

One way that businesses can encourage more volunteering is by helping employees better understand how their efforts benefit their community — particularly millennial employees who currently make up the largest portion of today's workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics' study, "Labor Force Projections to 2024: The Labor Force is Growing, but Slowly." Three quarters (75 percent) of surveyed millennials said they would volunteer more often if they had a better understanding of the impact they were making, compared to 61 percent of all respondents.

Another way businesses can encourage more volunteering is by helping their employees understand how it benefits them. For example, in last year's "Deloitte Impact Survey," 80 percent of hiring influencers indicated that they believe active volunteers move into leadership roles more easily. However, this year's Volunteerism Survey found that just 18 percent of surveyed working Americans believe that volunteering can enhance their career opportunities and 36 percent say it can help develop new skills.

"As businesses continue to find new ways to retain and attract new talent, and establish a more purpose-driven and engaged workforce, they should consider how they can better incorporate volunteerism into their culture," added Marshall. "It's a potential solution from which businesses, professionals and communities can benefit, while supporting employees' personal and career development, and boosting their sense of well-being."

The survey was released in conjunction with Deloitte's 18^th annual Impact Day, a celebration of Deloitte's year-round commitment to local communities and volunteerism in which many Deloitte professionals spend their day contributing to community service projects in more than 80 cities across the U.S. It is also a demonstration of Deloitte's culture of purpose and the role this plays in employee well-being.