the.com/volunteerism
unpaid labor with a halo, and somehow the economy runs on it anyway.
means the practice of doing work for others without pay, driven by belief rather than a paycheck.
from emerged in 19th-century english from volunteer, itself from latin voluntas meaning will or willingness; the -ism turned an act into an ideology, especially in american civic life.
US economic valueunpaid volunteer hours estimated worth billions annually
WWI origin boostterm surged as war relief efforts organized civilians
burnout paradoxmost quitting volunteers cite lack of appreciation
corporate co-optcompanies now count volunteering as employee benefits