Routine can turn the most rewarding of jobs into a bit of a grind.

Even astronauts, floating around in space, must shrug with indifference when the Great Wall of China comes into view for the umpteenth time.

Perhaps that's why more employers, particularly those whose staff are mostly deskbound, are encouraging their workers to "get a life" - even in office hours.

The volunteer sector usually benefits, with employees given time off to help in a special needs school, care for the homeless or act as a mentor for a disadvantaged child.

But employers also gain when staff develop new skills or breathe life into latent ones and use them to improve their performance at work. It is also good for public relations.

A Mori survey in 2003 showed 84 per cent of the British public think industry and commerce neglect the communities in which they operate.

But last year more than 10,000 workers, from office clerks to account managers, took part in a community volunteer Day. They renovated children's hospices, helped homeless people, rescued frogs and cleaned beaches.

The event was organised by community service volunteers. This year, the charity expects 100,000 people to take part.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "This is a great opportunity for staff to give something back to the community while developing communication and leadership skills themselves."

American Express, Brighton and Hove's biggest private employer, encourages its staff to broaden their skills and experiences. It has a number of schemes for employees where they can take paid leave to help out in the community.

Amex also offers sabbaticals. One employee is on four months' leave while she sets up and launches a foster carers' association.

Neha Patel, 24, a European risks manager at Amex House, Brighton, has worked for the company for four years. She has become involved in The Portage and Early Support Service, Brighton and Hove - a scheme run by the Children's Society which provides a home visiting service for pre-school children with disabilities.

Amex allows Neha to take an hour or so off every week to volunteer for the project. Because Neha is trilingual - she speaks English, Hindi and Gujarati - she hopes to find a placement with a family of minority ethnic origin.

She said: "The idea is to help the parents take control and make their own decisions. We don't want to go in and make them feel useless.

"Being able to interact with people is essential and these are skills I can take back to my work."

Claire Woods, 34, a training manager at Family Assurance, in West Street, Brighton, helps children at Middle Street Primary School with literacy and numeracy once a week.

She said: "Classrooms can have up to 30 children in them so the idea is I take a small group away and we concentrate on reading or writing.

"I have built up relationships with some of the children and I am told they look forward to seeing me, which is very rewarding on a personal level.

"Because one of the most important parts of my job is communication, I find working with children every week helps me a great deal. Speaking clearly and being understood is essential."

*For more information, contact Sara Burdon on 0207 643 1433.

Wednesday July 07, 2004