Fair Pay Value

Fair Pay Value

by Anonymous

I am a single, retired lady, who would like to find a work-camping exchange situation that is fair and reasonable for the employer and employee. I'm having difficulty understanding how the employer justifies asking for 20 hours a week for living space exchange.

Eighty hours a month at a reasonable $10 per hour would be an exchange value of $800 per month for the RV space. Perhaps the employers are intending minimum wage pay in exchange, which would drop the space value closer to $520 per month. Certainly the work experience of a retiree is worth more than minimum wage.

The no-kill animal shelter that advertises continually in your newsletter, expects 30 hours per week work for married couples (combined), and 20 hours per week for a single person (double that would be 40 hours per week).

Both situations above appear to have unfair pay value. The animal shelter is leaving themselves open to a law suit for discrimination against single people.

Are you able to explain the thinking of the above situations? I'd really like to understand. Thank you.

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Fair Pay Value

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Volunteer Position or Employment?
by: Coleen, the RVing editor

Yes, and I hope my explanation will help you understand.

There are two types of work that RVers do. One is paid employment. The other is volunteering. It looks to me that you are confusing the two.

Charitable and educational organizations, non-profits, and government agencies have volunteer programs. The rewards for doing volunteer work within these programs are contributing to society, helping a good cause, and making yourself and your country better. You do volunteer work because it makes you feel good. Sometimes when you do volunteer work you get extra benefits, such as a place to park your RV. Think of the RV site as icing on the cake, not the cake itself.

As for discrimination against singles, I'm no lawyer and don't make any claims to knowing discrimination laws. But, common sense says that a couple living in one RV, sharing one RV space is using fewer resources than two single RVers, each living in separate RVs, and each taking up an RV site. Using the example you gave, why doesn't each person in the couple work only 10 hours a week while the single works 20 per week? Because even though they are only using one RV space, those two people use more electric and other resources than one would.

Looking at it practically, the couple uses more resources than one single, and less resources than two singles in separate RVs. So, the couple works more hours than one single and fewer hours than two singles.

Paid employment is a whole different thing. In some cases there's a barter situation going on, where the employer and employee are trading work for housing and other benefits to the worker. In other situations, living on the employer's property is a condition of the job, for the employer's benefit. I believe the IRS uses fair market value to determine what the RV site is worth. It is also my understanding that regular labor laws apply.

Pay is typically set by the job, not the age of the person doing it. Work experience has value in some jobs and not in others.

Cleaning bathrooms at a campground? The 16-year old with no job experience (and little life experience) can be taught to do that as well as the 60-year old retiree. It is probably a minimum wage position, regardless of the employee's age, experience, education, or other qualifications.

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Submitted by: Coleen, the RVing editor

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Yes, and I hope my explanation will help you understand. There are two types of work that RVers do. One is paid employment. The other is volunteering. It looks to me that you are confusing the two. Charitable and educational organizations, non-profits, and government agencies have volunteer programs. The rewards for doing volunteer work within these programs are contributing to society, helping a good cause, and making yourself and your country better. You do volunteer work because it makes you feel good. Sometimes when you do volunteer work you get extra benefits, such as a place to park your RV. Think of the RV site as icing on the cake, not the cake itself. As for discrimination against singles, I'm no lawyer and don't make any claims to knowing discrimination laws. But, common sense says that a couple living in one RV, sharing one RV space is using fewer resources than two single RVers, each living in separate RVs, and each taking up an RV site. Using the example you gave, why doesn't each person in the couple work only 10 hours a week while the single works 20 per week? Because even though they are only using one RV space, those two people use more electric and other resources than one would. Looking at it practically, the couple uses more resources than one single, and less resources than two singles in separate RVs. So, the couple works more hours than one single and fewer hours than two singles. Paid employment is a whole different thing. In some cases there's a barter situation going on, where the employer and employee are trading work for housing and other benefits to the worker. In other situations, living on the employer's property is a condition of the job, for the employer's benefit. I believe the IRS uses fair market value to determine what the RV site is worth. It is also my understanding that regular labor laws apply. Pay is typically set by the job, not the age of the person doing it. Work experience has value in some jobs and not in others. Cleaning bathrooms at a campground? The 16-year old with no job experience (and little life experience) can be taught to do that as well as the 60-year old retiree. It is probably a minimum wage position, regardless of the employee's age, experience, education, or other qualifications.

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Unequal Pay
by: Anonymous

I understand the answer Coleen gave concerning the single/couple work camper situation and using more sites by the single.

But, when a single works half the time of a couple for site only or half the time for site and dollars, then does a single pay half as much at that park for a site than a couple? A site costs the same for both singles and couples, and the number of hours credited for the site should be the same.

We've even had to work extra hours when only one of us worked and I know that the second person doesn't use as much of the resources as a single would.

Fair Pay
by: Anonymous

We are new to this, and are considering the workkamp life style. To be honest with all of you, if this site is any indication of the compensation...we will do something else. We also feel our labor, even at 20 hours per week, is worth more then a $300-$600 (per month) camp site.

Exchanging Work for Site
by: Ann B.

I manage a county campground in MN. We offer a campsite plus $200.00 a month in exchange for 20-24 hours a week.

The first time I did any work camping I was not paid any extra for 25 hours a week for a couple.

I think the true meaning of exchanging a site for a small job has been lost. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to see the country and meet great folks and have a good time doing it without it costing you a fortune for your site.

We had a great host couple last year and they thought their site and pay was only worth 10 hours a week per couple. They did no sight seeing and very seldom left the park, but made it clear they were worth more than we offered. They left early because of problems with selling their business (they claimed).

What is It Worth?
by:

Anonymous writes: I have been workamping, volunteering, and working on the road for 18 years. The campsite that you occupy is usually empty, except to the holidays.

I usually go for the weather, as a sun bird, and to check out an area or look for something to develop. I like to spend no more that two months at any one location and that means three positions for the summer.

I do not do bathrooms and can do maint. if the camp host is not open. The last resort is golf course volunteer.

Every one thinks their camp sites are worth a lot more than they should be, but if you never have to pay that much, it is O.K.

Home -v- RV
by: Anonymous

We have not yet began our RV experience so this is not an "experience statement" but I have to add my two cents worth.

My hubby and I, living alone and renting, pay out over $1,200 per month in household bills alone. I can not imagine what that would be for a home owner with mortgage payment and home insurance and upkeep.

We have researched the workamp life and we honestly believe that, if we find an honest employer, this will be a lot less hardship on us than present living and we get to experience so many new things/places. If we don't like it we can move on (hopefully with notice and agreement with employer). Our lives have become boring, especially for me since my retirement/disability. I not only miss my salary but also the daily experiences with people outside my home. Workampng would appear to be a whole new life for us and we are excited about it.

I feel that when an employer offers FHU, including cable, WiFi, and laundry plus--in many cases--use of recreational facilities such as pool, then we are the ones getting a deal. We have little doubts, lots of dreams, and we are ready for any disappointments that may occur. We are not looking for big money, just a good/better/happier way of life.

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Fair Pay Value

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