The FOA public service union is concerned about the increasing number of tasks being given to volunteers in nursing homes and care centres - tasks that would normally be undertaken by paid staff. A union survey of members found one in four reporting that jobs previously handled by employees were being done by volunteers. The union welcomes the contribution of volunteers but warns that the sector cannot continue to cut jobs and rely more and more on unpaid support. FOA is also concerned about an increasing division in tasks with paid staff focusing more on practical tasks while volunteers take on more social activities and this could undermine the relationship that staff have with residents.
Read more at > FOA (DK)
Union concern over increasing role of volunteers
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Union argues that agreements needed on role of volunteers
As 2011 is the European year of volunteering, it is appropriate that the FOA public services has surveyed its members to find their views on volunteer work. While nine out of 10 are fully supportive of the work done by volunteers in the social services, just over a quarter are concerned that some volunteer work involves tasks that should really be carried out by professionals. FOA suggests that the union at the workplace should be involved in discussions with volunteer organisations to clarify the respective responsibilities of paid and unpaid workers. [Read more at > FOA (DK)->http://www.foa
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