Animal Welfare Professionals

How many small non-profits provide or offer a benefit program for staff? We don't, and it sure affects (negatively!) our ability to attract and keep already underpaid and stressed employees. I'm guessing its a common problem...is it???

#OrganizationalManagement

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jim wieszczyk
Director
A Second Chance Animal Shelter
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yes, unfortunately we understand.  Its a very common problem.  We don't have the resources to pay competitive wages or provide benefits so we try to do the best we can being flexible with schedules, providing gift certificates, pizza, gas cards and occasionally cash bonuses (we usually try to get our Board members to purchase these things) in appreciation for their hard work and dedication.   Our employees know they are not going to get rich (ha!).  When we hire, we offer any paid positions to our volunteers first.  For the most part, these are dedicated people who understand the hard work involved and have the greatest compassion for the animals in our care.  

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Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
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Thanks for the input and your experiences. Sometimes the biggest benefit to the answers I read here to the many scenarios is that we are not alone! So many share the same or similar problems and challenges! That helps as much as a good tip or advice!
Jim 

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jim wieszczyk
Director
A Second Chance Animal Shelter
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-29-2023 06:32 AM
From: Kingman County Humane Society
Subject: Benefits??

yes, unfortunately we understand.  Its a very common problem.  We don't have the resources to pay competitive wages or provide benefits so we try to do the best we can being flexible with schedules, providing gift certificates, pizza, gas cards and occasionally cash bonuses (we usually try to get our Board members to purchase these things) in appreciation for their hard work and dedication.   Our employees know they are not going to get rich (ha!).  When we hire, we offer any paid positions to our volunteers first.  For the most part, these are dedicated people who understand the hard work involved and have the greatest compassion for the animals in our care.  

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Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
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One huge benefit at my shelter for full-time staff is 4 weeks of vacation (PTO) annually, along with some paid holidays and sick leave. I live out-of-state from my family, so the extra time off is incredibly helpful for me. In comparison, my previous job that was at a for-profit company (with a much higher pay) only gave me 2 weeks vacation for the first 4 years, and then I got 3 weeks PTO starting at 5 years employment. I wouldn't have gotten to 4 weeks of PTO until I was there 10 years.

Some other unique benefits we have that I like:
 - discount for our personal pets at a local vet clinic the shelter partners with,
 - one waived adoption fee for any animals each year at the shelter (we can apply that to ourselves or a family member),
 - pet bereavement leave


All of our staff (full and part-time) also just got a $100 gift card for a local shoe store so we could get new work shoes - this was my first time getting this benefit, but apparently our management team does this kind of partnership every couple years for work shoes. 

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Erin Dams
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Roanoke VA
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Thanks, Erin: I never considered the increased vacation time. Will have to think about that nand how we might use it.
Jim

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jim wieszczyk
Director
A Second Chance Animal Shelter
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2023 09:36 AM
From: Erin Dams
Subject: Benefits??

One huge benefit at my shelter for full-time staff is 4 weeks of vacation (PTO) annually, along with some paid holidays and sick leave. I live out-of-state from my family, so the extra time off is incredibly helpful for me. In comparison, my previous job that was at a for-profit company (with a much higher pay) only gave me 2 weeks vacation for the first 4 years, and then I got 3 weeks PTO starting at 5 years employment. I wouldn't have gotten to 4 weeks of PTO until I was there 10 years.

Some other unique benefits we have that I like:
 - discount for our personal pets at a local vet clinic the shelter partners with,
 - one waived adoption fee for any animals each year at the shelter (we can apply that to ourselves or a family member),
 - pet bereavement leave


All of our staff (full and part-time) also just got a $100 gift card for a local shoe store so we could get new work shoes - this was my first time getting this benefit, but apparently our management team does this kind of partnership every couple years for work shoes. 

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Erin Dams
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Roanoke VA
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