On 3/5/07, Oldak Quill oldakquill@gmail.com wrote:
On 05/03/07, GerardM gerard.meijssen@gmail.com wrote:
Hoi, An employee brings minimally as his/her commitment to work 40 hours a week. An employee can be told to do what is deemed necessary by the organisation. An employee is part of an hierarchy and he/she does not have the option to say "Sorry, but like you I am a volunteer".
These are all things that are really relevant differences. Strange that I did not have to think hard nor long to come up with just this initial list. When I think of it, a professional can be hired to do the things where we do not have the volunteers to do these tasks.
Thanks, GerardM
Based on the fact that Wikimedia Foundation has such a large pool of volunteers, I think the 40 hour week difference makes little difference. Is there a reason why Wikimedia Foundation can't contract volunteers (as charity shops do)? Similarly, there is no reason why the Foundation can't give official positions to volunteers who can be trusted to work a minimum number of hours a week (with or without a contract). Such volunteers would be given a job description and be asked to do things by the Foundation in the way an employee would.
The efficiency difference between an internal, dedicated employee and a sea of part time volunteers is immense. The board is quite right that having internal employees for coordination roles will help overall capabilities immensely.