Stop Working for Free
Money is a touchy subject, especially in Christian settings.
But it’s also necessary for running any organization.
Christian organizations are dependent on the money of their members, supporters, or participants, and they often try to keep the budget tight - rightly so. This is responsible stewardship.
Knowing this, Christians often want to give their time, talent, and energy to the organization as a gift. There is an appropriate way to volunteer that blesses the organization and blesses you.
HOWEVER not all volunteering is good for the organization, for you, or for those who come after you. Stop working for free.
Both men and women do this, but I see it more often with women. This is at least in part because women have been socialized in the church to give give give of themselves and often don’t value their contributions properly.
Historically, women have also been disallowed from certain paid roles in the church. Often, they had a strong sense of calling so would serve anyway. I’ve heard women say, “It’s not about the money, it’s about the work that needs to be done.”
Yes - but it’s also not just about you.
Before I tell you WHY YOU SHOULD BE PAID let me start by saying, service and volunteering are important spiritual disciplines. Please serve at your church on Sundays by setting up coffee, or teaching Sunday School, or playing with the band, or greeting people. Please volunteer to visit shut-ins if you are able. Please volunteer with missions and organizations that need hands and feet to accomplish the important work of the Kingdom. Volunteer for things that are traditionally volunteer positions, and that allow you to bless the community and also feel rewarded by the community or the fruit of your labor. If you have a gift that you can give, you should give it.
If you are volunteering your time doing a job that should be a paid position, you should stop.
How do you know if it should be a paid position?
A few questions to consider:
Was the last person paid?
Will the next person need to be paid?
Is this a paid role in other similar organizations?
Would your role be a significant budget item if you were paid?
Is your role critical to operation of the organization?
What would the organization do if you left or stopped?
And if you’re a woman…
Would a man get paid for the same job? (I know… touchy… but it’s real.)
I had a conversation recently with a woman who is doing a lot of unpaid work for a Christian organization. She said she doesn’t mind volunteering her time because she enjoys doing it. I get it. I’ve been there. “This is fun for me!” I’ve said. “This gives me life! I like doing it!” “I don’t mind. It’s a way I can serve.” There’s even the trap of, “I’m getting experience.” But the work this woman is doing is absolutely a paid position in other organizations, and is mission critical. If she stopped, someone else would have to do it.
If your role is mission critical, then your volunteering may not actually be helping, and you should be paid. You are doing a disservice to the organization by allowing them to budget improperly for staff and personnel.
If your job is “Fruit Organizer,” and fruit organization is critical to the mission of the organization, and if you disappeared, they would absolutely need someone else to organize the fruit, then the position of “Fruit Organizer” needs to be covered in the budget.
If you are the first “Fruit Organizer” and there were no funds previously set aside for your role, and if you are able to work for free, consider suggesting taking on the role with the goal of it becoming a paid position over the course of a few years. I would suggest taking it for a small stipend to help the organization define what is actually needed in the first year, but with a written goal of increasing the pay by a specific amount or a certain percentage in the next year’s budget. It’s ok to give the organization time to build up the role IF YOU ARE ABLE and IF YOU WANT TO. But simply doing the work for free doesn’t help them in the future. It also doesn’t properly value what you bring to the table.
If you feel strongly about giving your time and talent, then still ask about the stipend and creating a budget, but donate your pay back to the organization. This allows you to give and still allows them to track what your role costs. By getting paid, you are doing them a favor and helping the person who comes after you.
Imagine you move to Antarctica to start a mission to penguins. You can no longer work as the “Fruit Organizer” at your organization. A new person comes in, a young woman named Martha. Martha has a degree in fruit organization. She sees your organization needs a “Fruit Organizer,” and has even been asked if she might be interested. She is excited because she is a gifted fruit organizer and could really use the extra income right now. Martha meets with the head of the organization who never mentions any kind of pay, but Martha is qualified and thinks she would enjoy the job. She finally works up the nerve to ask about pay and the head of the organization says, “Oh… well… the last woman did it for free. We don’t have the budget to pay you right now, but you could gain experience.”
Don’t do that to Martha.
When she has to say no, the organization is stuck waiting for someone who has the right training or gifts and is also willing/able to work for free.
So here are words you can use:
Is there a budget for this role?
Was the last person a paid staff member?
Do you expect to pay someone to do this role in the future?
Would you consider a stipend this year with the goal of a salary next year? (ONLY do this if you can afford it!!!)
I think my training/expertise in this area is valuable, so I am going to continue looking elsewhere. But if something changes with your budget, please let me know.
Stop working for free. Your time and talents are valuable, but also, being properly compensated for your work helps the organization understand their operating costs. It also helps Martha who comes after you.
Do it for Martha.