A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Conclusion

Negotiating the legal maze of volunteer service administration can be confusing. The laws that have been designed to protect volunteers from exploitation and employees from unfair competition often make it difficult for service organizations to offer community service in a legal and economically feasible manner.

The forgoing materials show that, in most circumstances, the laws provide paths, although sometimes quite narrow ones, that enable service entities to utilize and place volunteers in positions and projects that will provide the service and satisfy the charitable goals of the volunteer. On occasion, sacrifices must be made. The volunteer may have to forgo compensation, the organization may need to modify the nature of the work or reduce the task, or the service recipient may have to accept assistance slightly different from the kind anticipated. If all the parties to the service project are willing to be flexible, volunteers can continue to offer their special kind of assistance without violating federal or state law.

[NonCitizens ]

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