New GoVo for Business volunteering platform launches as nearly one in three UK workers report disengagement 

Nearly one in three UK employees feel disengaged at work, as new research from Royal Voluntary Service highlights rising stress, falling productivity and a lack of meaning in working life. 

The charity has launched GoVo for Business, a volunteering platform designed to help employers improve engagement, wellbeing and productivity through easier access to workplace volunteering. 

Research commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service found that 29 per cent of UK workers feel disengaged, 31 per cent feel unsatisfied in their job and one fifth have considered quitting in the past year. In the past 12 months, 34 per cent said they have become less engaged, 35 per cent less satisfied and 28 per cent less productive. 

Stress and burnout are also rising, with 34 per cent of employees reporting they feel stressed and burnt out at work. Only 29 per cent say their work feels meaningful. A lack of recognition beyond performance and high workloads were among the reasons cited. 

For UK employers already grappling with retention, absence and productivity pressures, the findings reinforce the link between employee engagement and organisational performance. Disengagement not only affects output but can undermine morale, culture and brand reputation. 

GoVo for Business aims to address this through structured, accessible volunteering opportunities. Developed with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the platform connects employees to thousands of flexible roles supporting charities across Britain. Royal Voluntary Service says there are 400 opportunities in every postcode area. 

The platform has been designed in partnership with hundreds of charities and includes remote, in-person, skills-based, ad hoc and micro-volunteering options. Employers can track participation and impact through built-in reporting tools, and employees can access the system through Single Sign On. 

Royal Voluntary Service said that while many organisations offer paid volunteering days, uptake remains low. Separate research found that 30 per cent of UK workers are offered paid volunteering days, equating to more than 190 million hours per year. However, only 26 per cent of those hours are used, leaving around 140 million hours unused. 

Deborah Meaden, sustainable business advocate and investor, said: “Employee engagement and wellbeing are two of the major cornerstones of a well-functioning business, yet can be the hardest to get right. There’s an easy win many employers are missing though: volunteering. It’s a proven to improve wellbeing, build connection and skills, and deliver good things for society. 

“However simply offering volunteering days isn’t enough – organisations must actively support and make it easy for teams to take them. With so many vital causes needing our help, employee volunteering is an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to make a real difference both inside and outside the organisation.” 

Carole Urey, chief revenue officer at Royal Voluntary Service, added: “Disconnected and disengaged employees can be costly for employers. These feelings not only reduce productivity but can impact brand reputation and retention. Volunteering through workplace programmes is a proven way to improve wellbeing, connection and productivity, while contributing to society. However, despite good intentions, millions of employee volunteering hours are going unused each year, because employers struggle to find suitable opportunities or don’t have the resources to manage the process. GoVo for Business breaks down these barriers and unlocks workplace volunteering at scale – delivering greater value for businesses, their people and society.” 

The launch comes at a time when the charity sector is facing a projected shortfall of three million volunteers, increasing pressure on community services. Royal Voluntary Service believes businesses have a key role to play in strengthening civil society while also supporting their own workforce health and wellbeing strategies. 

Available on a tiered pricing model, with commercial income reinvested into the platform and Royal Voluntary Service community services, GoVo for Business forms part of the charity’s wider Impact Stack volunteering system. This includes consultancy support and curated activities to help organisations embed volunteering into workplace culture. 

For UK employers seeking practical interventions to improve engagement, purpose and employee wellbeing, the data suggests volunteering may offer a structured way to connect workforce health with community impact.