Mandatory volunteerism: the role of perceived organizational support in perceived benefits and costs, and volunteer outcomes

ABSTRACT

Rationale/Purpose

This study drew upon social exchange theory to investigate the mediation effects of perceived benefits and costs on the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and the attitudinal outcomes of mandatory volunteers (voluntolds), namely volunteer satisfaction and future civic intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 513 respondents who were voluntolds (i.e. mandatory volunteers) at a large-scale sport event in China. They were analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results indicated that POS was positively and more significantly associated to perceived benefits and negatively associated with perceived costs. POS also positively predicted volunteer satisfaction, but it did not directly predict future civic intention. In addition, perceived benefits were positively associated with volunteer satisfaction but not with future civic intention, whereas perceived costs were negatively related to both volunteer satisfaction and future civic intention.

Practical implications

The findings provide insightful implications for sport event organizers to develop a volunteer management program with particular attention to orientation, training and support, performance management, and recognition practices for mandatory volunteers.

Research Contribution

The findings suggest the proactive role of event organizers in enhancing perceived benefits and volunteer satisfaction and, consequently, promoting the civic behaviors of mandatory volunteers.

KEYWORDS:

• Mandatory volunteering
• social exchange theory
• perceived organizational support
• perceived benefits and costs
• sport event

Acknowledgment

This study was not funded by any organization.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.