Source: https://cjpia.org/news/newsletter/newsletter-article/2013/10/01/october-2013---issue-20
Timestamp: 2019-10-18 18:28:24
Document Index: 552891281

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 553']

October 2013 - Issue 20
The Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) is a federal law that sets forth restrictions on wages and hours. When Congress amended the FLSA in 1985, it made clear that people are allowed to volunteer their services to public agencies “for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation...”(29 C.F.R. § 553.101(a).) An individual is only considered a volunteer if “their services are offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from an employer.” (29 C.F.R. § 553.101(c).) There are two primary issues that arise under the FLSA when utilizing the services of volunteers: (1) what payment, if any, can a volunteer receive; and (2) can an employee volunteer for the same public agency that employs the employee?
Payment to Volunteers. While a volunteer cannot be compensated for their services, the volunteer can be “paid expenses, reasonable benefits, a nominal fee, or any combination thereof,…” (29 C.F.R. § 553.106(a).) For example, a volunteer school guard could receive a uniform allowance or reimbursement for reasonable uniform cleaning expenses and still maintain his/her status as an unpaid volunteer. Volunteers can also be reimbursed for “out-of-pocket expenses incurred incidental to providing volunteer services…” such as transportation and meals. (29 C.F.R. § 553.106(b).)“Benefits [provided to volunteers] would be considered reasonable, for example, when they involve inclusion of individual volunteers in group insurance plans (such as liability, health, life, disability, workers' compensation) or pension plans or “length of service” awards, commonly or traditionally provided to volunteers…” of public agencies. (29 C.F.R. § 553.106(d).) Indeed, even a “nominal fee” can be provided to volunteers without jeopardizing their volunteer status. However, a nominal fee cannot be a “substitute for compensation and must not be tied to productivity” (29 C.F.R. § 553.106(e).) For example, a volunteer who volunteers on an annual basis can receive a nominal stipend or fee. Finally, public agencies must be mindful of the total value of the expenses, benefits and fees provided to volunteers because it is possible for the individual to lose his/her volunteer status when the total value of the payments made is considered “in the context of the economic realities of the particular situation.” (29 C.F.R. § 553.106(f).)
Holiday trees account for hundreds of fires annually. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem--a dry and neglected tree can be.