While you may know that there are individuals who are not Case Western Reserve University employees who may perform services for CWRU as a volunteer. What you may not know is that CWRU has important processes for screening and engaging volunteers.
Volunteers are individuals who offer their services without cost to the university for civic reasons and which are not typically performed by university employees. The university does not intend for volunteers to perform or displace work that is presently being performed by university employees.
Qualified volunteers may provide services to the university for specific reasons and for limited times after they sign a volunteer waiver and release form and consent to a criminal background check. The volunteer and release form shall be returned to the employment office at AskHR@case.edu. Supervisors who are contacted by a potential volunteer must refer the potential volunteer to the employment office for a determination, processing of the waiver, background check, and to schedule an orientation to the university’s standards.
A volunteer may not:
- Be engaged and/or directly supervised by a relative or other individual who would be considered inappropriate under the university’s policy on nepotism.
- Receive compensation nor be eligible to receive employment-related benefits available to regular employees such as workers’ compensation, health benefits, or the ability to file for unemployment compensation.
- Be offered any future promise of university employment that is contrary to the university’s or regulatory equal employment opportunity or employment policies.
- Be coerced or pressured to perform his/her duties in any fashion.
- Perform unpaid work if the individual is otherwise employed by the university in any capacity to perform the same or similar type of duties and responsibilities.
- Operate university-owned motor vehicles or other heavy equipment unless specific exceptions have been requested and approved by the appropriate university office and are not contrary to university risk management policies.
At all times, volunteers are responsible for adhering to the university’s standards and policies while on campus.
What about a potential volunteer who is in the U.S. on a visa? Under federal law, individuals holding specific types of visas may be restricted—or prohibited—from volunteering. Volunteer status may not be used as a way to avoid or defer compliance with the employment eligibility requirements of federal immigration laws.
Get more information about the policy relating to non-CWRU employees (independent contractors, volunteers, interns and temporary employees).
Contact Karma Topor at askHR@case.edu for more information.