Volunteer offered a paying position by caregiver

[Marisol Riddell]

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Marisol Riddell and I am new to hospice, but I've been volunteering for 25 years.

 

My question is this:

I have a few unemployed Volunteers and one of them was recently offered a paying position by the caregiver. This caregiver is overwhelmed and although she is very appreciative of the volunteer hours we have provided, needs more constant assistance. Specifically, she needs a companion for her daughter who is developmentally disabled, and general housework.

 

Are we allowed to still have the Volunteer volunteer on the days originally agreed upon? With the caregiver and the Volunteer ironing out their own aggreement for services and payment on the days volunteer hours are not provided? Or do we need to remove the Volunteer from volunteering until she is no longer a paid employee of the caregiver?

 

Thank you in advance for any advice you have on this topic.

Mrs. Riddell

[Shila Brown]

To avoid any possible conflict of interest, I would say it's as simple as either a choice between being a volunteer or a paid employee. I wouldn't place my volunteer in this position, too much opportunity for something to go wrong and for your organization to be held responsible for. Understanding your volunteer may be in need of a paid position, then place her in an "inactive" mode but be absolutely sure that the caregiver understands fully that the volunteer is accepting the position of her own free will and not as part of her Hospice Volunteer role.

[Marisol Riddell]

Thank you Shila, for such a thoughtful response. We were leaning toward this as a solution and it feels good to have our thoughts on this validated.