Get Paid to Volunteer during Work Hours: Inside WEX’s VTO Program

One of the things that makes WEX such a great place to work? Employees often cite our heartfelt commitment to engaging with and giving back to the communities where we live and work. One of the ways we do this is through WEX’s Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program, which offers every employee 16 hours of paid time off each year, specifically to give back to their community. In 2018 alone, WEX employees have devoted more than 2,400 VTO hours. And while we’re on trend to add VTO into WEX’s corporate philanthropy program—only 16 percent of companies in the U.S. offered it in 2014, compared to almost a quarter of companies today—that’s certainly not the driving reason behind introducing this employee benefit.

Why have a VTO program?

Community is one of WEX’s core values, and we view community engagement as much more than monetary support. Our employees find personal value in donating their time and energy to causes they care about, which in turn enables WEX to form deeper partnerships with the organizations we support. The purpose of our VTO program is simply to encourage employees to give back to their communities in a meaningful and hands-on way, without having to use their vacation time.

What kind of volunteer work can employees do?

We currently allow employees to volunteer their time at any organization they choose. We’ve had employees volunteer individually for organizations like Goodwill, and we’ve also had entire teams go on volunteer outings. Sometimes WEX facilitates these outings, while other times an employee team will bring the volunteer opportunity to WEX’s attention. Teams have also used VTO to add a volunteer component to their professional development days. For instance, a group of about 30 WEXers recently held a team offsite on Maine’s Cow Island, where they spent part of the day cleaning the island for nonprofit organization Rippleffect.

While some offices already have an energized group of employees involved in volunteering, our VTO program is still a relatively new employee benefit, rolled out in 2017. As a result, we continue to grow its global footprint. And as we globalize our entire philanthropy program, we’re working to standardize the way VTO works across our offices and locations.

If you’re interested in volunteering or learning more about WEX’s VTO program, contact our corporate philanthropy manager, Melissa Dudley at melissa.dudley@wexinc.com .