[Libs-Or] Volunteer vs. paid.

[Jackie May]

Interesting topic. I came across this somewhat recent discussion from the
UK, where they seem to be having a terrible time keeping libraries open and
the staff are occasionally replaced with volunteers. We love our
volunteers, but most of them are here for one, two or three hours a week,
if that.
They have specific tasks that they perform (shelving, jacketing books,
shelf reading, Friends group, etc.) and the other tasks are for paid staff.
There is no substitute for the experience of day-to-day managing and
performance of library functions. As much as some folks like to volunteer,
they are not obligated to volunteer 40 hours a week and most of them would
not dream of doing so unless they did not have "a life" outside the library
world. I agree that using a volunteer as a "fill-in" for a paid staff
member is not good practice, as it is setting a precedent and probably
against the law.

http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/volunteer-run-libraries/cons

Jackie


On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 8:12 PM, Emily PAPAGNI <emilyp at multco.us> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> There is an Oregon labor law that says you can't do volunteer work
> that is similar in nature to your paid work.
>
> Libraries probably vary in the way that they interpret the law in
> accordance with their HR policies.
>
> It's my understanding that the law is put in place to protect workers'
> rights. Wage and hour laws state that people must be paid for work
> that is in their regular scope of duties. So if someone performs a
> specific kind of work as part of their regular duties then that person
> can't also "work for free" doing the same thing. It's like working off
> the clock.
>
> Here's some info from The Bureau of Labor and Industries web site:
>
> http://www.oregon.gov/boli/TA/pages/t_faq_tawaitim.aspx
>
> Emily
>
> Emily Papagni
> Answerland Support Librarian
> Multnomah County Library
> Phone: 503.988.5433
> emilyp at multco.us
> http://www.answerland.org
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 1:37 PM, Robin Speer <robin.d.speer at state.or.us>
> wrote:
> > To add to Buzzy's comments...here is what I will contribute.
> >
> >
> >
> > Not knowing more details, if the paid employee is doing volunteer tasks
> that
> > are the same as her paid position, it could be problematic. My
> > recommendation is to seek professional advice from your HR department.
> >
> >
> >
> > Robin Speer
> >
> > Volunteer Program Coordinator
> >
> > Talking Book & Braille Services Fund Development Coordinator
> >
> > Oregon State Library
> >
> > 503-378-5014
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On
> Behalf
> > Of Buzzy Nielsen
> > Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 10:45 AM
> > To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> > Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Volunteer vs. paid.
> >
> >
> >
> > We don't allow staff to do "volunteer" hours for our library district.
> > According to our lawyer, it's too rife for abuse and potentially opens
> you
> > up for lawsuits. For instance, you could imagine scenarios where an
> > unscrupulous manager "requires" volunteer hours or an unscrupulous
> > ex-employee sues claiming that s/he was required to do volunteer hours
> > rather than being paid.
> >
> > That being said, I sometimes have to remind my staff that they actually
> do
> > need to put all of the hours they worked on their timesheets. it's nice
> to
> > have dedicated folks!
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Buzzy Nielsen
> >
> >
> > ************************************
> > Library Director
> > Hood River County Library District
> > 502 State St
> > Hood River, OR 97031
> > 541-387-7062
> > http://hoodriverlibrary.org
> >
> > On 10/18/2013 09:58 AM, Cheryl Spangler wrote:
> >
> > I have a volunteer who just got put on the pay roll. I have been told
> that
> > she can either get paid or volunteer because of laws pertaining to that.
> > She works 4 hours a week and fills in wherever we need her. What do you
> do
> > in this case?
> >
> > Cheryl Spangler
> >
> > Harrisburg Public Library
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________
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>



-- 
Jackie J. May
Interlibrary Loans
Jefferson County Library District
241 SE 7th Street
Madras, OR 97741
541-475-3351, ext. 307
541-475-7434 (fax)
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"Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up
and he went completely out of his mind."
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Saavedra<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4037220.Miguel_de_Cervantes_Saavedra>,
* Don Quixote <http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/121842> *
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