Volunteers make an important contribution to the success of the University. Judgment and care must be exercised in the use of volunteers. In accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the University considers a volunteer to be an individual who performs hours of service for the University for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation for services rendered.
Individuals, who are employed by the University, in any capacity, may volunteer hours of service to the University. Employees paid on an hourly basis are restricted to services that are not the same as or similar to the type of services for which they are employed. Similar services are defined as activities requiring the same skills/knowledge or that directly or indirectly support the work for which an individual is compensated. The use of minors as volunteers should be in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations and University Human Resource policy HR 116 Employment of Minors with regard to the type of services performed, equipment used and parental authorization required.
Courts have interpreted the FLSA to permit volunteers to be paid expenses and/or nominal fees for their service without losing their volunteer status. Expenses or fees that may be paid include: out-of-pocket expenses incurred incidental to providing volunteer services (e.g. meal, transportation and uniform expenses); training related expenses; a nominal fee which is not a substitute for compensation and is not based on productivity; and benefit coverage such as disability and Workers' Compensation. Volunteers who regularly provide service to the University are covered by Workers' Compensation whether or not they are formally recognized. Therefore, the immediate reporting of all injuries is very important.
A department's senior administrator is responsible for the approval of volunteer assignments. It is recommended that a signed statement of understanding be used with a copy to Human Resource Services to assure the volunteer is providing services freely (a sample form follows this policy).
HR 116 Employment of Minors; HR 307 Workers' Compensation
| University of Missouri Staff Volunteer Information Sheet Title: Volunteer Job Code: 9996 |
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| Name (Last, First, Middle): | Date: | ||
| Social Security Number: | |||
| Are you a United States Citizen? | yes | no | |
| Have you been or are you currently enrolled as a University student? | yes | no | |
If YES please circle:
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| Have you been or currently are a University employee? | yes | no | |
If YES please circle:
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| Please Describe the Services You will be Providing:
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| I am volunteering my services to the University of Missouri for the purpose as described above and within the noted department. I am doing so solely for my personal purpose or benefit without promise or expectation of compensation or University benefits. I understand that I will not be displacing or replacing a University employee. If employed, my volunteer services will not be performed in my regular department or in connection with regular duties. | |||
| Volunteer’s Signature Date: | |||
| Section 2 (To be completed by the home department) | |||
| Home Dept. Name | Home Dept. Code | ||
| Home Dept. Contact | Home Dept. Telephone | ||
| Home Dept. Address | |||
| Authorized Signature: | Date: | ||
Date Created: 9/26/97
Last Updated: 01/01/2003