It’s a common question. Should a particular position be a paid or a voluntary one?

Well, it’s complicated but you probably already knew that. However, understanding the difference between paid and volunteer roles is crucial for both moral and legal reasons.

Years ago, a friend of mine volunteered for a community theatre group. She managed costumes, handled budgets, ordered supplies and supervised others—all unpaid. Later, she found out a nearby theatre paid someone to do exactly the same work. It made her wonder if she’d really been a “volunteer” or just an unpaid employee. Her story isn’t unusual and it raises an important issue for leaders of volunteers—how do they tell the difference?

Let’s get the easy question out of the way first. The type of organization has a huge impact. Charities, community groups and not-for-profits rely heavily on volunteer energy, though even they must be cautious. Businesses or social enterprises almost never have legitimate volunteer roles unless they are part of separate charitable initiatives. But even in the not-for-profit sector there are differences. A large, national or multi-national charity with dozens, or even hundreds, of employees will be held to a........

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