Volunteer Leave - Mary O’Kane

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm a mother of three sons living in Australia (possibly due to my cooking skills 🙂). 

I worked in the Insurance Industry for 29 years, which I thoroughly enjoyed. During covid, I fancied a career change, and in March 2021, I took up my role as Sales Executive in Decision Time. I love all sports but especially camogie, hurling and golf.

What did you do for your volunteer leave experience? 

I helped organise a Golf Day for a small local charity called Lets Change Tomorrow a registered, non-profit founded in 2017. The charity aims to get aid to people who are victims of war, natural disasters or catastrophes. The charity has also provided assistance for the local community.

What made you choose this particular charity/event for your volunteer day?

I am a volunteer committee member of Let's Change Tomorrow; we make every effort to get aid where it is needed. Where possible, we send it via local volunteers working in emergency areas.

My family and I organised a Charity Golf Day last year in aid of Marie Curie and a local Dementia Group in memory of my daddy, who passed away the previous year. We raised £20K, which was split equally between these charities. 

The chairperson, who is also the founder of Let's Change Tomorrow, asked if I would help organise one this year.

Do you think volunteer leave is important for corporate businesses to offer employees and why?
I had planned to take this golf day as annual leave; however, we were acquired by Advanced Software in April, who not only encourage their employees to volunteer but they also give an extra day for Volunteer Leave with full pay. Naturally, I was delighted as that afforded me an extra day of annual leave this coming Christmas to spend with my two eldest boys. They are coming home for three weeks holiday, and since I haven't seen them since 2018 and 2019, the extra day off with them will be precious!

You asked if volunteer leave is essential for corporate businesses to offer employees and why? I'd like to answer that in two parts:

Volunteering per se is a good thing for everyone to do, not just for the charity and its beneficiaries but the volunteers themselves. I sometimes wonder if I volunteer to help others or help myself because I get so much out of it personally. My life is much richer for it, and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who might be feeling lost, sad or lonely - volunteering gives so much back to the Volunteer.

Apart from playing the perfect round of golf (which, sadly, I've never experienced yet 🙂), there is no better feeling than being able to help someone in need. Volunteering can take many forms; it could simply be listening to someone who needs an ear, visiting or helping out an elderly neighbour, coaching a sports team, fundraising or helping a family member.

It's not just about providing a day off, either. For corporate businesses to offer employees a day off every year with full pay, to Volunteer is one of the best perks they can give. It’s a great way to introduce volunteering to people who may not have previously thought about it for no reason other than it never crossed their minds. That one day, 'Volunteering' could be all it takes for an employee to get involved more permanently.

I'm grateful to my current employer for offering this to all staff.