Our Affiliate Volunteers

Policy Number: 302 Policy Group: Volunteer Management Date Approved: June, 2018 Date Revised: June, 2020 INTENT To ensure a certain standard of conduct is communicated, understood and practiced by all volunteer stakeholders who work with the affiliate in any capacity. POLICY Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton recognizes the intrinsic value of our volunteers to all aspects of the operation and management of our affiliate. As such, we welcome and celebrate the diversity of ideas and experience that our volunteers bring to Habitat Sarnia/Lambton. In order to both protect that Habitat for Humanity brand and to achieve and maintain integrity in all operations, Habitat Sarnia/Lambton has certain expectations of its volunteers with regard to conduct and behaviour. Generally, the Board of Directors of HFHS/L has identified several key objectives to govern the conduct of its volunteer stakeholders. These include but are not limited to the following:

• Behaviour that reflects the mission, vision and values of Habitat for Humanity;
• Strict adherence to all health and safety rules and regulations;
• Respectful and appropriate communication and interaction with all stakeholders (inclusive of staff, other volunteers, donors, customers and members of the general public);
• A commitment to fostering and supporting a positive, team-based work environment;
• Respectful and appropriate use of Habitat Sarnia/Lambton’s property and assets;
• The practice of confidentiality (where the volunteer role requires); and
• The maintenance of a sober and drug-free working environment relative to the performance of all responsibilities relative to HFHS/L.

Where there are issues with the conduct of a volunteer, Habitat Sarnia/Lambton will endeavor to practice a positive, progressive discipline policy with the intent of supportively correcting the concerning behaviour(s). As such, three, progressively corrective actions will be utilized in our disciplinary approach to employees:

1. An oral reminder;
2. A written reminder; and
3. A respectful request to discontinue volunteer service to Habitat Sarnia/Lambton.

These steps will normally be followed in progression. However, where offences or breaches in conduct are deemed to be sufficiently serious in nature it is possible that one or more of the above noted steps will be skipped. Given the severity of the breach it is also possible that a recommendation of discharge will be immediately made to/entertained by the Executive Director with input from the Board of Directors if/as the circumstances require. While HFHS/L is committed to generally approach disciplinary action in a progressive manner, it reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to decide whether and what disciplinary action will be taken in a given situation. The actual disciplinary action applied/undertaken will depend upon the severity of the incident and will take into consideration the volunteer’s tenure as well as the timing and nature of previous disciplinary action, if any. As part of on-boarding a new volunteer, a Volunteer Code of Conduct (appended) will be reviewed with and signed by each volunteer. Appropriate affiliate staff will periodically review the Volunteer Code of Conduct during the course of regular, annual volunteer communications. RESPONSIBILITY Oversight of the Volunteer Code of Conduct is the responsibility of the Executive Director in concert with affiliate senior leadership and under the direction of and in liaison with the Board of Directors. RATIONALE All volunteers should know and understand Habitat Sarnia/Lambton’s expectations and should understand the process by which corrective action will generally be approached for breaches in conduct.