Volunteer Peer Counselor – Help Workers in Crisis – Remote

About the Role

Empower Work is a national nonprofit ensuring that everyone—no matter their job or industry—feels valued, supported, and empowered at work. In 2025, we hit a milestone of supporting nearly half a million workers. Over 90% of texters report feeling better after just one conversation.

Our support line runs because of dedicated volunteers like you. This is an unpaid volunteering opportunity where you will receive a free training course to develop your coaching skills, and practice those skills by helping real people with real world issues.

Benefits

• Free training in coaching and communication that improve your skill set as an effective communicator, coach, manager, and leader — skills that strengthen every relationship, professional and personal, and stay with you long after your time as a volunteer
• Put skills to work supporting real people, live, through genuinely hard working moments
• Earn a LinkedIn certification as an Empower Work Trained Peer Counselor upon completing the full volunteer program
• Earn a LinkedIn-Certified Empower Work Peer Counselor Badge after 50 hours of service
• Make a meaningful impact: 90% of help seekers report improved mental health, 88% say they have taken an action that felt right for them
• Grow professionally: over 95% of volunteers report gaining new communication and coaching skills they use at work
• Join a compassionate national community committed to creating healthier workplaces
• Set your own schedule — remote, flexible, and built for people with busy lives

Training

Our structured 5-week online program is grounded in coaching fundamentals. You'll build skills in:

• Empathy and emotional attunement
• Active and deep listening
• Powerful open-ended questioning
• Clear, supportive communication

Volunteers often describe these skills as transformative — useful not only in counseling but in leadership, management, and everyday life.

Responsibilities

After completing training, you'll:

• Provide non-judgmental, real-time support to people navigating difficult work situations
• Help workers gain clarity, feel less alone, and identify actionable next steps
• Choose flexible 2-hour remote shifts
• Receive live supervisor support during every shift
• Use Empower Work's AI-powered tools for real-time guidance and post-session feedback

Qualifications

We welcome volunteers from all career backgrounds who are curious, empathetic, and committed to supporting others.

Schedule

Flexible 2-hour remote shifts available 7 AM–7 PM PT, Monday–Friday.

Testimonials

"I've learned that people often just need someone to truly listen as they process their experience. Volunteering at Empower Work helped me put empathy into action and better identify when to validate, acknowledge, and champion others."

— Ebele, Volunteer Peer Counselor

"I came to this site 3 years ago on the off chance I could just speak to anyone about what was going on with my job. Y'all helped me so much then, and so much today. Thank you for what you do."

"Within an hour, I received the best support I've had in my entire life. I'll never forget that feeling of someone helping me rebuild my sandcastle after every wave had knocked it down."

"This situation was so difficult for me — I honestly don't know what I would have done without your counselors. They took it to a positive place and helped me build on it."