Taking on a volunteer

[MissBling]

Hi
I have a small retail shop and am looking into taking on a volunteer can anyone give me advice on how I go about this? I have looked into it but not sure if I need to register the volunteer/volunteer work through an official channel? I’ve read you don’t really need to draw up a contract even but feel there must be something official you need to do as the business owner?

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I dont see how you can morally take on a volunteer in a commercial enterprise but I do have an idea

You could pay this person at the minimum wage rate or above the minimum wage rate and have a proper contract of employment .
Hope this helps

 

[MissBling]

I dont see how you can morally take on a volunteer in a commercial enterprise but I do have an idea

You could pay this person at the minimum wage rate or above the minimum wage rate and have a proper contract of employment .
Hope this helps

 

[MissBling]

No that’s not helpful actually! The person who has asked to volunteer has a variety of medical illnesses that cause chronic pain and fatigue that can come on with very little warning she is not able to hold down a regular job and receives the appropriate benefits for this reason. She would only be able to work a few hours here and there when she feels well enough to but wants to do this to help with her mental health so she feels she has self worth it would just be very light duties and not doing anything at all with any responsibility and would always need to be full supervised but I would like to help her if I can as she is such a lovely lady.

 

[Deleted member 335660]

Hi @MissBling , yes I guessed that may have been the case. We have a friend who is retired and just likes to come in now and again to help for a few hours. Retired window dresser and loves doing our window like at Christmas.

I don’t think there is any official thing you need to do. I might be inclined to ask her to sign a simple letter confirming she is a volunteer and that you have shown her all the safety points ( fire extinguishers, safety lights etc.). As you indicate she is going to be supervised and not left on her own so that is fine.

 

[WaveJumper]

This is a question for our HR experts on here but my first thought is I assume this person is "signed off" with her medical illnesses hence she gets appropriate benefits so technically should she be out "working" and would your insurance cover her if god forbid an accident happened. I think you need to seek (as you are) some proper HR / legal advice

 

[MissBling]

Hi @MissBling , yes I guessed that may have been the case. We have a friend who is retired and just likes to come in now and again to help for a few hours. Retired window dresser and loves doing our window like at Christmas.

I don’t think there is any official thing you need to do. I might be inclined to ask her to sign a simple letter confirming she is a volunteer and that you have shown her all the safety points ( fire extinguishers, safety lights etc.). As you indicate she is going to be supervised and not left on her own so that is fine.

Thank you for your reply. Yes I did read that you don’t have to draw up any paperwork but I think I would be happier having something in place. I wasn’t sure if she had to notify the benefits or do something.

 

[MissBling]

This is a question for our HR experts on here but my first thought is I assume this person is "signed off" with her medical illnesses hence she gets appropriate benefits so technically should she be out "working" and would your insurance cover her if god forbid an accident happened. I think you need to seek (as you are) some proper HR / legal advice

Yes she can do volunteer work, she is currently volunteering one morning a week in a charity shop. On a good day she can be ok but if the fatigue comes on or pain is too much she would go home or she has to sit and rest a bit i between doing things. For her mental health and well being doing this lifts her spirits and makes her feel good about herself I am a sole trader I don’t need extra staff with regards to taking on paid stuff this would not be a job that could be offered to anyone else it will have to be very flexible and fitting in with her health and condition. She will just be pottering in the shop dusting shelves and products and putting out new jewellery on display tidying shelves etc

 

[Newchodge]

The first things that you need to check are your insurance policies. A real volunteer is not covered by employment law, but health and safety and public liability can be issues.

Generally volunteers work for not-for-proft organisations, which obviously, yours is not. Because of that it may be that this person will, legally, be a worker or an employee. Either of those must be paid at minimum wage for the hours they work.

Your volunteer will also have to check the conditions of their state benefits, which may prevent them doing any work. Again those on benefits are able to volunteer, but as you are not a charity, they are probably not, legally a volunteer.

The closest I can think of would be offering them work experience for a very limited time.

 

[Newchodge]

Hi @MissBling , yes I guessed that may have been the case. We have a friend who is retired and just likes to come in now and again to help for a few hours. Retired window dresser and loves doing our window like at Christmas.

I don’t think there is any official thing you need to do. I might be inclined to ask her to sign a simple letter confirming she is a volunteer and that you have shown her all the safety points ( fire extinguishers, safety lights etc.). As you indicate she is going to be supervised and not left on her own so that is fine.

Sorry, Trevor, what do you base that on?

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

HI @MissBling ,

Insurance - if you have a retailers package policy, it is likely you already have Employers' Liability Insurance in place (but check!). Any volunteer is regarded as an Employee for insurance and liability purposes and you therefore have a duty of care. You therefore need to ensure suitable 8Health and Safety is in place etc.

 

[MissBling]

The first things that you need to check are your insurance policies. A real volunteer is not covered by employment law, but health and safety and public liability can be issues.

Generally volunteers work for not-for-proft organisations, which obviously, yours is not. Because of that it may be that this person will, legally, be a worker or an employee. Either of those must be paid at minimum wage for the hours they work.

Your volunteer will also have to check the conditions of their state benefits, which may prevent them doing any work. Again those on benefits are able to volunteer, but as you are not a charity, they are probably not, legally a volunteer.

The closest I can think of would be offering them work experience for a very limited time.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[MissBling]

Thank you for your advice.

Thank you i will check this out.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

No that’s not helpful actually! The person who has asked to volunteer has a variety of medical illnesses that cause chronic pain and fatigue that can come on with very little warning she is not able to hold down a regular job and receives the appropriate benefits for this reason. She would only be able to work a few hours here and there when she feels well enough to but wants to do this to help with her mental health so she feels she has self worth it would just be very light duties and not doing anything at all with any responsibility and would always need to be full supervised but I would like to help her if I can as she is such a lovely lady.

As an equal opportunities entity you should never view a persons disability and health status as a barrier to gainful employment . Im afraid I dont buy this and a business should be doing more to create a paid position if the owners wish to have this person on board

 

[UKSBD]

There was a story a few years ago.
I think the daughter had Down's Syndrome

She liked to help at a local business, mother liked her helping, work she was doing wasn't really worth minimum wage, so mother wanted an exemption from minimum wage.

Can't remember what happened but there was a lot of fuss

edit: just found it here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39138775

 

[MissBling]

As an equal opportunities entity you should never view a persons disability and health status as a barrier to gainful employment . Im afraid I dont buy this and a business should be doing more to create a paid position if the owners wish to have this person on board

You don’t have to buy it and I don’t appreciate your pre judgements either. I am not viewing anything as a barrier this lady knows her capabilities and in her words and in her psychologists words she is not able and does not want an employed position, even taking the physical issues aside, the pressure alone of any responsibility would be debilitating for her. Please do not judge on something you clearly have no knowledge of!!

 

[MissBling]

There was a story a few years ago.
I think the daughter had Down's Syndrome

She liked to help at a local business, mother liked her helping, work she was doing wasn't really worth minimum wage, so mother wanted an exemption from minimum wage.

Can't remember what happened but there was a lot of fuss

edit: just found it here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39138775

Thank you for sharing.

 

[UKSBD]

Thank you for sharing.

bit of a follow up a couple of years later here - https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2019090177119/rosa-monkton-exclusive-interview-hello/

 

[MissBling]

bit of a follow up a couple of years later here - https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2019090177119/rosa-monkton-exclusive-interview-hello/

Thank you very much

 

[Alan]

I know you don't like this stance, but you are a business not a charity. If someone in your business is doing work, regardless of how flexible you are and how light the duties are, dusting is still 'work' and the law say you pay the minimum wage.

If you really want to do something that is charitable to help peoples' self worth when they are unable to gain employment then set up a charity to help people.

 

[MissBling]

I know you don't like this stance, but you are a business not a charity. If someone in your business is doing work, regardless of how flexible you are and how light the duties are, dusting is still 'work' and the law say you pay the minimum wage.

If you really want to do something that is charitable to help peoples' self worth when they are unable to gain employment then set up a charity to help people.

I appreciate what your saying but your not understanding this ladies situation she receives benefits because she can’t work for medical reasons she would like a few hours just pottering in the shop and for the company too. She may just be able to do an hour or two max. Obviously I could just let her do this but I am trying to find out the legalities around this so it is all above board.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I sympathise with the OP. There are lonely people out there, some who cannot or do not want to hold down a regular job and I think it a travesty that red tape makes them 'unusable'.

I once had the opportunity to employ somebody who didn't want paying. They had a part time paid job as a volunteer the wages for which they paid straight back into the charities coffers as a donation, were drawing a decent pension, was taxed at a high rate on other income streams and just wanted to get out of the house, do something they thought they would enjoy doing with some social interaction thrown in that didn't require them to sit in a pub or see the same friends every day of the week.
They also didn't want the commitment that would require them to ask for time off to visit the Doctor etc.,

 

[MOIC]

I think you have to take into consideration how HMRC will view this ‘employment’ from your business, rather than the ‘employee’.

Can your accountant advise on how best to handle it?

 

[GSinghD]

Hi
I have a small retail shop and am looking into taking on a volunteer can anyone give me advice on how I go about this? I have looked into it but not sure if I need to register the volunteer/volunteer work through an official channel? I’ve read you don’t really need to draw up a contract even but feel there must be something official you need to do as the business owner?

Hi this person will not be classed as a volunteer even if they sign a piece of paper to do so. Be careful it will not be a legally binding agreement. You are still liable for pay and employment rights and Health & Safety of this worker. Message me if you would like to know how to do this properly. I have been advising businesses for 9 years on HR matters and I am CiPd qualified. No charge to speak to me for some i initial advice. All the best.