VOLUNTEER PERCEPTION AND LABOR IMPACT AT THE HUANCAYO CHARITABLE SOCIETY SHELTER: SECOND PERIOD OF 2024

Abstract

Volunteering in social welfare organizations constitutes a fundamental pillar for the sustainability and reach of assistance programs aimed at vulnerable populations (Anheier, 2014). Globally, this type of unpaid human capital enables the optimization of resource allocation and the expansion of essential service coverage in areas where the State faces limitations (Salamon & Sokolowski, 2016). However, managing this workforce constantly faces the critical challenge of attrition (Hustinx et al., 2010). Contemporary scientific literature consistently demonstrates that volunteer retention and commitment depend not only on initial altruistic motivations but, to a large extent, on organizational factors and the conditions of the work environment in which they operate (Alfes et al., 2015). Elements such as fluid internal communication, the work climate, supervisory support, and institutional recognition emerge in current research as key determinants directly influencing volunteer satisfaction and performance (Allende & Castro, 2021). When these factors are deficient, a negative impact on the work environment ensues, undermining retention and compromising the quality of service provided by the organization (Malatesta, 2019). Despite the extensive literature on organizational behavior in the corporate sector, there is a notable knowledge gap regarding how these processes specifically play out in public charitable institutions within the context of emerging economies (Mellado & Quispe, 2022). Within the Peruvian social context—and specifically in the Junín region—empirical studies analyzing the link between perceptions of the organizational environment and the direct impact on work outcomes in public shelters are scarce (Condor, 2023). There is an underlying controversy in the field of research: while some traditional views hold that volunteers' intrinsic motivations and social commitment are sufficient to ensure their continued participation despite institutional shortcomings (Clary & Snyder, 1999), divergent and critical perspectives demonstrate that internal management deficiencies and a lack of non-monetary incentives undermine this sense of calling, precipitating withdrawal from service (Penner, 2002). This study addresses precisely this contradiction by providing original quantitative evidence on how the internal work dynamics of a public shelter can either enhance or diminish the volunteer experience. Therefore, it is imperative to systematically examine the relationship between the perception of the work environment and work outcomes in this sector. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between volunteers' perceptions and work-related impact at the Huancayo Charitable Society shelter during the second period of 2024. This analysis seeks to provide a rigorous conceptual and empirical framework that not only enriches the sociological debate on third sector management in Andean regions but also serves as a strategic tool for designing institutional policies aimed at mitigating attrition and strengthening social volunteering.