For little to no reward other than the satisfaction of contributing, volunteers will dig in and perform tasks that even the highest paid employee would choose to avoid. Yet, despite the inestimable value of volunteers, laws exist that can make volunteer service a maze of legal obstacles.
Some laws restrict volunteer activity.
Others affect the form of compensation volunteers may receive. Although this legal conundrum seems both ridiculous and frustrating, be assured that it exists for a generally good purpose. Laws that limit or prohibit volunteer service are designed to protect both volunteers and employee members of the labor force. These legal barriers attempt to prevent disreputable employers from taking advantage of free labor in a manner that could exploit the volunteer or displace a paid employee. This booklet is designed to help the administrators of community-serving agencies negotiate the legal maze of volunteer service.