[NEohioPAL]To Volunteer or To Not Volunteer?
Lee Kamps
lee921 at att.net
Fri Feb 23 15:09:40 PST 2007
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There are wage and hour laws that too many businesses seem to be ignoring
and the Bush administration isn't aggressively enforcing. A volunteer is
just that - an unpaid volunteer that signs up for a specific project or
event without expecting to be paid. Many non profit orgainzations depend on
volunteers to survive. The laws are very strict regarding volunteers versus
employees.
If one hires someone not in their immediate family and not a part owner of
the business, then they must pay them at least the federal minimum wage.
That is the law. Certain people can be hired as independent contractors and
not subject to the minimum wage laws like commissioned sales representatives
and others hired on a contract basis (like a contractor that hires out
carpenters, plumbers, etc.) but paid on a project basis. It is up to the
independent contractor to decide whether to accept any contract assignment
or job. The IRS has distinct rules between an independent contractor and an
employee.
If you hire someone as an employee, then it is the law to withhold federal,
state and local income taxes and remit those withheld taxes to the proper
authority. An employer must also pay the matching social secirity and
Medicare tax as well as withhold the taxes from the employee and remit it to
Uncle Sam. Failure to do so results in severe penalties from the IRS that
could put a company out of business and send the owners to prison.
If an opportunity is truly a multi million dollar enterprise, then certainly
the owner could afford to pay an assistant. Otherwise it is only so much
hype and is most likely a scam masquarading as a business opportunity. If it
is a scam, then the postal inspection service or other law enforcement
authority should be notified. These scams pop up all the time. If anyone is
working without pay and is not a part owner or an immediate family member of
the owner; then their employer is breaking the law. You should notify the
Department of Labor and the state's atorney general's office. You are
entitled to be paid for your work.
When landlords, creditors and mortgage companies will accept promises in
lieu of dollars; then it is fine to work as an unpaid employee. However
being paid in company stock instead of wages is a fraud and most often that
stock is worthless. Stock options to employees and ESOPs are a viable means
to attract good employees to start up companies. The best example of that is
Wal Mart. When Sam Walton started Wal Mart in the early 1970s, many
employees were given stock in Wal Mart. There are a lot of secretaries,
truck drivers and cashiers that became millionaires through that early Wal
Mart stock.
Lee Kamps
-----Original Message-----
From: neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com
[mailto:neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com]On Behalf Of Dawn Jordan
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:25 PM
To: neohiopal at lists.fredsternfeld.com
Subject: [NEohioPAL]To Volunteer or To Not Volunteer?
I normally don't wage in on these debates but I am compelled to share my
own opinion on this one.
I see NEOPal as a wonderful resource for the arts and entertainment
community and I want to express that not everyone agrees that requests for
legitimate volunteers are to be censored from this list. I (and many others
I know in the arts/entertainment community) have volunteered our time in
exchange for learning about the industry, for experience on resumes, or
(quite frankly) for the fun of it. Just because someone volunteers doesn't
mean that someone else is taking advantage of them. I don't want postings
censored or for people to feel uncomfortable posting requests for volunteers
for fear that they will be blasted for doing so. Not all requests are
legitimate, but most of the people on this list are intelligent, thoughtful
people that can tell the fakes and phonies from those who genuinely believe
in what they are doing and don't have the money to hire someone. Sometimes
volunteers are more reliable than paid employees because they believe in
what they are doing enough to not care about payment. If I volunteer, I
usually go above and beyond what I need to do.
I am intelligent enough to know that there are no "Million Dollar
Start-Ups" unless you are paying a million dollars to start a company. In
which case, you would be able to pay a secretary. Everyone thinks they have
a "million dollar idea" for a business but that doesn't count.
As far as the film, while I may not want to volunteer my time to help
them, there may be others that would want to help for experience. Maybe
they agree with what the film stands for and want to help. Maybe the don't
agree with it but still want to help. How many times has someone requested
people to work on their horror film for experience but no pay? Does that
mean that you agree with bloody scenes of people getting hacked up? No - it
means that you want the experience of being a part of the film industry or
have some free time and think it would be fun.
Everything comes down to integrity. Everyone posting should give all of
the necessary information for the others on the list to decide for
themselves. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
Let us make our own decisions. We are responsible for researching for
ourselves whether to volunteer our time or not. If you have had a bad
experience with that person or group that is posting, by all means post what
happened to you. Tell about your experiences but please do not assume that
all people requesting volunteers are scammers or try to ban them from
posting on this list. If you do, you might scare away someone whom I might
want to help. Playhouse Square uses volunteer ushers as do many other
theatres. Independent films use volunteers. Student filmmakers use
volunteers. Does this mean that they are not legitimate because they don't
pay? Not at all. To volunteer or not to volunteer - that is the question.
Please do not make the assumption that I or the others on this list are so
unintelligent that we can't make decisions for ourselves.
Thank you to Fred, who gives us the opportunity to express our needs and
gives the arts and entertainment community an outlet to advertise, share,
and discuss!
Dawn Jordan
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>There=20
are wage and hour laws that too many businesses seem to be ignoring and =
the Bush=20
administration isn't aggressively enforcing. A volunteer is just that - =
an=20
unpaid volunteer that signs up for a specific project or event without =
expecting=20
to be paid. Many non profit orgainzations depend on volunteers to =
survive. The=20
laws are very strict regarding volunteers versus employees. =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>If one=20
hires someone not in their immediate family and not a part owner of the=20
business, then they must pay them at least the federal minimum wage. =
That is the=20
law. Certain people can be hired as independent contractors and not =
subject to=20
the minimum wage laws like commissioned sales representatives and others =
hired=20
on a contract basis (like a contractor that hires out carpenters, =
plumbers,=20
etc.) but paid on a project basis. It is up to the independent =
contractor to=20
decide whether to accept any contract assignment or job. The IRS has =
distinct=20
rules between an independent contractor and an =
employee.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>If you=20
hire someone as an employee, then it is the law to withhold federal, =
state and=20
local income taxes and remit those withheld taxes to the proper =
authority. An=20
employer must also pay the matching social secirity and Medicare tax as =
well as=20
withhold the taxes from the employee and remit it to Uncle Sam. Failure =
to do so=20
results in severe penalties from the IRS that could put a company out of =
business and send the owners to prison.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>If an=20
opportunity is truly a multi million dollar enterprise, then certainly =
the owner=20
could afford to pay an assistant. Otherwise it is only so much hype and =
is most=20
likely a scam masquarading as a business opportunity. If it is a scam, =
then the=20
postal inspection service or other law enforcement authority should be =
notified.=20
These scams pop up all the time. If anyone is working without pay and is =
not a=20
part owner or an immediate family member of the owner; then their =
employer is=20
breaking the law. You should notify the Department of Labor and the =
state's=20
atorney general's office. You are entitled to be paid for your work.=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>When=20
landlords, creditors and mortgage companies will accept promises in lieu =
of=20
dollars; then it is fine to work as an unpaid employee. However being =
paid in=20
company stock instead of wages is a fraud and most often that stock is=20
worthless. Stock options to employees and ESOPs are a viable means to =
attract=20
good employees to start up companies. The best example of that is Wal =
Mart. When=20
Sam Walton started Wal Mart in the early 1970s, many employees were =
given stock=20
in Wal Mart. There are a lot of secretaries, truck drivers and cashiers =
that=20
became millionaires through that early Wal Mart =
stock.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D980295522-23022007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Lee=20
Kamps</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com=20
[mailto:neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com]<B>On Behalf Of =
</B>Dawn=20
Jordan<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 23, 2007 3:25 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =
neohiopal at lists.fredsternfeld.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [NEohioPAL]To =
Volunteer=20
or To Not Volunteer?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>I normally don't wage in on these debates but I am compelled to =
share my=20
own opinion on this one.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I see NEOPal as a wonderful resource for the arts and =
entertainment=20
community and I want to express that not everyone agrees that requests =
for=20
legitimate volunteers are to be censored from this list. I =
(and=20
many others I know in the arts/entertainment community) have =
volunteered our=20
time in exchange for learning about the industry, for experience on =
resumes,=20
or (quite frankly) for the fun of it. Just because someone =
volunteers=20
doesn't mean that someone else is taking advantage of them. I =
don't=20
want postings censored or for people to feel uncomfortable =
posting=20
requests for volunteers for fear that they will be blasted for doing =
so. =20
Not all requests are legitimate, but most of the people on this list =
are=20
intelligent, thoughtful people that can tell the fakes and phonies =
from those=20
who genuinely believe in what they are doing and don't have the money =
to hire=20
someone. Sometimes volunteers are more reliable than paid =
employees=20
because they believe in what they are doing enough to not care about=20
payment. If I volunteer, I usually go above and beyond what I =
need to=20
do.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am intelligent enough to know that there are no "Million Dollar =
Start-Ups" unless you are paying a million dollars to start a =
company. =20
In which case, you would be able to pay a secretary. Everyone =
thinks=20
they have a "million dollar idea" for a business but that doesn't =
count. =20
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As far as the film, while I may not want to =
volunteer my time=20
to help them, there may be others that would want to help for=20
experience. Maybe they agree with what the film stands for and =
want to=20
help. Maybe the don't agree with it but still want to =
help. How=20
many times has someone requested people to work on their horror film =
for=20
experience but no pay? Does that mean that you agree with bloody =
scenes=20
of people getting hacked up? No - it means that you want the =
experience=20
of being a part of the film industry or have some free time and think =
it would=20
be fun.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Everything comes down to integrity. Everyone posting should =
give=20
all of the necessary information for the others on the list to decide =
for=20
themselves. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's =
a=20
duck. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Let us make our own decisions. We are responsible for =
researching=20
for ourselves whether to volunteer our time or not. If you have =
had a=20
bad experience with that person or group that is posting, by all means =
post what happened to you. Tell about your experiences but =
please=20
do not assume that all people requesting volunteers are scammers or =
try to ban=20
them from posting on this list. If you do, you might scare =
away=20
someone whom I might want to help. Playhouse Square uses =
volunteer=20
ushers as do many other theatres. Independent films use=20
volunteers. Student filmmakers use volunteers. Does this =
mean that=20
they are not legitimate because they don't pay? Not at =
all. To=20
volunteer or not to volunteer - that is the question. Please do not =
make the=20
assumption that I or the others on this list are so unintelligent =
that we=20
can't make decisions for ourselves. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you to Fred, who gives us the opportunity to express our =
needs and=20
gives the arts and entertainment community an outlet to advertise, =
share, and=20
discuss!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dawn Jordan</DIV>
<P>
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href=3D"http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=3D49938/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com=
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miss an email again!<BR>Yahoo! Toolbar</A> alerts you the instant new =
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