Volunteers

Introduction

Like workers’ compensation in general, state laws regarding the provision of workers’ compensation benefits to volunteers vary widely among the states. Some state workers’ compensation statutes automatically include volunteers in their definition of “employee.” Many do not. Among those states that include volunteers, some include only certain classes of volunteers. Some states do not include volunteers in their definition of “employee” but do allow organizations that utilize volunteers the choice of whether to offer them workers’ compensation eligibility.

In some states, the issue of whether a volunteer is an employee has been determined by the courts. The determinations are based on two different factors. Some states consider whether volunteers are paid some sort of benefits, such as housing, room and board, or reimbursement for expenses. If so, they will likely be treated as employees for purposes of workers’ compensation. Other states may minimize any monetary benefit but look closely at whether the employer exercises significant control over the volunteer’s work or service.

Eligibility

In those states and for those employers who provide coverage for volunteer workers who are injured, the eligibility for coverage generally has the same requirements as for paid workers:

  • That the volunteer was injured during authorized volunteer hours
  • That the volunteer was injured while working within the scope of the volunteer’s service to the employer
  • That the injury was not caused by the volunteer’s intentional or criminal behavior or because of intoxication

Benefits

The benefits for which volunteers are eligible are usually the same as those for which any worker would be eligible, including lost wages. Since volunteers are not paid for their volunteer positions, states have a variety of ways to calculate disability pay for injured volunteers. The following methods reflect the way in which states may calculate volunteer lost wages:

  • Set benefits: Some states have set forth a schedule indicating specific dollar amounts that an injured volunteer will receive for specific injuries.
  • Percentage of wages from regular employment: Some states use a formula that awards the volunteer a certain percentage of the amount they earn from their regular employment.
  • Average industrial worker: Some states pay volunteers the same rate that would be paid to the average industrial worker in the state.
  • Minimum wage: Some states pay volunteers based on the minimum wage.

Nonprofit organizations

Many nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to forward their missions and provide their services. Therefore, nonprofits are very aware of the need to provide coverage for those volunteers. Volunteers themselves may want to be sure that their injuries will be covered, either because they are automatically included with employees under state law or because the nonprofit for which they volunteer has arranged to cover them.

Volunteer Firefighters

Many small towns and municipalities all over the country have all-volunteer fire departments. States treat volunteer firefighters differently. Some specifically provide coverage for volunteer firefighters; others do not. In some locales, the municipality itself provides the needed coverage.

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