volunteer labor Cancel The title field is required!

1. Mowrey Mark S

   
   2/6/2013 3:02 PM

   I am the supt. over 2 courses in the transition zone with bent greens and will have only 4 full-time and three part-time employees this summer due to a financial disaster ahead of us. I have to use volunteers to generally take care of everything. Anyone out there have any experience in working 40+ members doing everything, inc. mowing and rolling greens to syringing 7 days a week. I should also mention my asst. was fired last Oct. and upper management has elected not to replace him. Maybe I'll write an article on how it goes-if I have a job left this fall. Thanks for any input and advice.

   
   
   
   
2. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   2/6/2013 6:02 PM

   It is nice people are willing to volunteer and help with maintenance, the issue is their potential of getting hurt while working with equipment on the job. You want them to sign paper work agreeing to do work with understanding they are able to do so without you or the golf courses responsibility for their actions. I have never allowed volunteer labor to utilize equipment, manual work flower beds one thing, mowing utilizing equipment entirely another issue legally. I would say caution and check with local government to find out responsibility for you and your employer. More to it than meets the eye so to speak.
   
   GreggR

   
   
   
   
3. Terry Smith

   

   0 posts
   
   2/7/2013 6:02 AM

   Mark, are you (the facilities) owned by the city or the POA? You might be able to get legal advice from the Municipal League attorneys in L.R. Gregg is right on about the liability issue. Good luck and call me if you need a shoulder to cry on as that is about all I can offer. If I was a little closer I'd come mow for you.
   
   Terry

   
   
   
   
4. Mowrey Mark S

   
   2/7/2013 8:02 AM

   Thanks for the replies and the offer Terry. I had three guys mowing roughs last season and the breakdowns were my biggest issue. Yes, the legal issue is at the forefront and we have a Release of Liability waver signed and in place and also a document that states the operator has been fully trained on safety and operating procedures of the piece of equip. being used. I have talked with a lawyer and he has seen the waiver but both he and I know it generally is not worth the paper these things are written on. Communication and organization are key areas with this endeavor and I will have to get a bigger job board.
   Again, thank you guys for replying and Terry I'm sure I'll be calling you.

   
   
   
   
5. Neidhardt John J

   
   2/7/2013 11:02 AM

   We are a state owned complex. We had part time employees working the front of the house, and then upper management had the idea to make them volunteers with amenity use for a carrot. In less than 6 months The Department of Labor was called in by an unhappy volunteer. Low story short, we had to back pay them for those volunteer months.

   
   
   
   
6. Richard Jensen

   

   0 posts
   
   2/8/2013 10:02 AM

   We are fortunate (sometimes) to have very involved Men's & Ladies clubs that consistently aid us with manual labor for landscape maintenance, painting, etc. and larger in house projects. Liability release waivers are signed annually by all volunteers. I would urge caution allowing them to operate equipment. Our insurance will cover any injuries they sustain in a manual labor capacity. BOLI in our state has very strict guidelines regarding the tasks volunteers can perform without compensation. Good luck with the upcoming season.