Aibu and not volunteer again

[Metoodear]

So I got myself on a very important volunteer job 6 months ago as I was only working one day a week

So thought I would do some good recently I had to resign as I have a pt job 3 days a week and tbh the volunteer job needs doing well and I wouldn’t have the time as I don’t want to a shit job because I am trying to do to much

Sent a lovey letter about how much I had enjoyed myself and thanked them for the opportunity


I didn’t even get a smiley face emoji back
Ducking rude or is it just me and they wonder why they struggle to get people

Aibu to think I should of got even a email thanking me for my time

[StaySafe]

I know we’re my academic faults lie thanks and get anything official proof read I think their is a pendants corner

Oh dear, unless it was intentional as a joke.

[hellokittymania]

Rules, exactly. Some of our volunteers have only volunteered for a few weeks. The people who did our training many years ago did it for one month.

God, I can't even believe my organization is 12 years old! Crazy.

[SleepingStandingUp]

I am wondering if OP just emailed and never went in again

[WingsOnMyBoots]

I had the exact same experience. I volunteered for just over 2 years, every Saturday - 4 hours for the first 15 months and 2 hours for the rest, travelling 45 miles there and back.

I always felt not really appreciated there but kept going back because I love the animals. Various incidents happened there and I started to dread the idea of going.

This Christmas just gone there wasn't even a card saying 'thank you for your time' nothing. I don't think that's too much to ask. There had been one the year before.

Due to personal reasons it became impossible for me to carry on so earlier this year I emailed the manager to say I would not be returning. There was no response at all.

I just think it's rude and unprofessional not to thank some one for their time. This charity relies heavily on volunteers for their day to day operations. Many volunteers giving only a few hours service every week is a lot of free labour and money saved. They should be valued and appreciated and treated with respect.

[ilovesooty]

Of course volunteers should be thanked and appreciated. They are in my organisation.

I'm assuming you told your supervisor what was happening, gave the required notice and arranged for an efficient handover of any work you were doing?

[ikeepaforkinmypurse]

I do agree that it would polite to at least acknowledge your resignation, and write a bog standard "thank you" line in the email or letter.

We don't know what you did write, and who you wrote to. Some people are disorganised, other busy, other have a job on the side and forgot.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it

[Juells]

@WingsOnMyBoots

This Christmas just gone there wasn't even a card saying 'thank you for your time' nothing. I don't think that's too much to ask. There had been one the year before.

I don't think you're being fair. An animal charity isn't the same thing as a Council charity. I know someone who's involved in an animal charity and it's taken over their whole life, and the lives of everyone involved. Of course it can't function without volunteers, but there's a high turnover of volunteers - there could be twenty helping at the weekends, doing odd hours, others during the week after work. There wouldn't be addresses for most of them - not even surnames, often, only first names and phone numbers.

Who's going to sort out the list for Christmas cards? Who's going to buy them, write them etc.? Most people involved in small unfunded charities are overworked, and broke.

[strawberrisc]

I get where you're coming from. I thank anyone who does anything for me and often write emails of praise if I've been given particularly good service in a shop or restaurant.

[shinycat]

YANBU @metoodear

I also think they could have at least thanked you for your time there, and maybe got you a leaving card. As you said, they are always looking for people and then treat them like this when they have the audacity to leave.

Good luck in your new job, but don't worry about it. Just move on. (Try not to let it put your off volunteering again though.)

Attacks on posters grammar and spelling is just rude by the way people!

[3boys3dogshelp]

Did you give the council any notice OP?
I do think that all voluntary work should be acknowledged, but I wonder if you had to be trained for the role, then did 1 day a week for 6 months, then sent an email and never went in again, whether they are cross that you’ve left them in the lurch.
I don’t understand why you are getting such a hard time about your grammar. Your OP is a bit difficult to read but we’ve all managed to understand it and grammar isn’t relevant to your AIBU.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Can we please stop with all the grammar corrections? It's not in the spirit of the site and, quite frankly, you make yourself look like a complete dick.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just a quick thank you for you service reply would ensure that someone acknowledged you were not going to be in again.

No reply could mean your email has been missed.

Otherwise just plain rude

[useyourimagination]

It's such a shame that some charities don't appreciate their volunteers but they're not all like that.

I volunteered for a small charing for about a year, one day a week, about two years ago. I left because I got a full time job. They were really happy for me and wished me well etc.

I lost that job at the beginning of the year and I've recently gone back to this charity and they've welcomed me back with open arms. They asked about my family (good memories) and are really grateful that I'm there.

They always post thanks to all the volunteers on the Facebook page when someone reaches a milestone (eg. 100 hours given, 1 year volunteering) and all there's a summer and winter gathering for the volunteers who can make it.

Please don't give up on volunteering - there are some organisations out there who really do need and appreciate you.

[shinycat]

Agreed @tinklylittlelaugh

Not everyone is perfect.

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

Maybe they couldn't read your e-mail.

[SilverHairedCat]

Did you resign by email then never turn up again?
Did you verbally explain the issues to whoever you report to as well?
Have you left them in the lurch with the role by leaving at short notice if they have been struggling to recruit?

Because if so, it might explain why you've not heard anything - they're trying to fill the gap.

Also, when I left my permanent role in a public sector career, I received a certificate of service over 6 months after I left, which was a real shock. Nothing moves quickly in these places.

[Bearfam]

ICantCopeAnymore

Yet you could be bothered to write that.

[lottiegarbanzo]

I think you're right.

Volunteers should always be thanked and never taken for granted, even - especially - when they are completely relied upon. Even when they are managed by other volunteers.

It is hard to recruit volunteers and showing disdain towards them will not make it easier. It will give the organisation a poor reputation.

A quick 'thank you for your contribution' message should be standard practice.

[Juells]

Attacks on posters grammar and spelling is just rude by the way people!

^^ This

As the OP resigned by email, I can't see what the huge deal is about clicking 'reply' and just saying 'Thank you for all your help. We wish you the best in the future.' How difficult is that?

[shinycat]

@ihopeyourcakeisshit

Maybe they couldn't read your email

You're hilarious. Maybe you should sell tickets for your comedy show.

[WingsOnMyBoots]

@Jules
I don't think you're being fair


We are talking about one site.

The Christmas cards being left by and for everyone in general were all left in a box in the common room so no posting or addresses needed

All she has to do is write a card out as normal but put 'thankyou' on her cards, that's it.

If really to busy for that, a group email would have done.

We are talking about a small gesture, once a year.

[ICantCopeAnymore]

@Bearfam

Obviously

[AnnPerkins]

YANBU

You are absolutely not unreasonable to expect some acknowledgement of your months of unpaid work.

So much of society depends on people volunteering. I hope you're not put off doing it elsewhere in the future.

And type how you like. This is only a chat forum, not fucking Hansard.

[TheWildRumpyPumpus]

I do two different volunteer activities, one for a charity and one for a group my kids take part in.

The local branch of the charity takes great care make volunteers feel appreciated, with thank you messages written up on the notice board in the office and a birthday card every year.

The kids activity I am thanked with a gift and card every Xmas and end of school year and a note in the newsletter acknowledging the work we do.

We don’t give our time in expectation of praise or gifts but it makes you feel appreciated!

[Bearfam]

I work with volunteers and feel that it is so important to acknowledge their contribution. Or perhaps it is just polite to reply to an email. So not unreasonable at all.

I'm actually pretty shocked at all the twatty replies. I hope all of the smug grammar police feel pleased with themselves. I wonder what is going on in your life to feel the need to rudely and sometimes aggressively point out a strangers grammatical short comings online? It wasn't like the post was un readable. Remember often people write things on devices on the go. Also dyslexia is a thing.