[TheForge] ABANA Conference work

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

i have numerous questions concerning these 'comped' positions.

0. is the person working the 'comped' position considered an employee
of abana (w2) or an individual contractor ( 1099 )? if not an employee
of abana are they considered an employee of the abana conference or an
individual contractor?

1. is the person working the 'comped' position covered by abana's
workman's compensation insurance carrier or the abana conference's
workman's compensation insurance carrier? basically, who covers the
'comped' person's medical bills in the event that injuries are sustained
while performing 'comped' duties?

2. is this a verbal contract or a written contract?

depending on the answers to the above questions working an abana
conference in a 'comped' position may actually be a really bad idea for
the 'comped' person. accidents do happen and the financial impact of
such such injuries can and do have wide ranging effects. personal
finances can and will be thrown into turmoil and assets will dwindle
to next to nothing.

so my personal suggestion to anyone considering working a 'comped'
position at any conference put on by any organization is to consider the
legal and financial ramification to doing so. do not let personal
desires/wants/needs cloud your judgement and in doing so place your
family and you at considerable risk. finally, get everything in writing
do not rely on a verbal contract. ask for a copy of the workman's
compensation insurance policy. if there is no workman's compensation
insurance policy my personal advice would be to run run away fast.

On Wed, 6 Oct 2004, Will Hightower wrote:

will>
will> A couple points on Chucks questions on comped positions at
will> conferences:
will> 
will> I have worked ABANA conference sense 1984 (someday I may see one).
will> It is very hard work.  This is no easy ride holiday.
will> 
will> You get to see very little of the conference, so why should you
will> pay?  You pay your own transportation, miss half the "free" meals,
will> are dirty for a week, and get yelled at a lot.  All you get is a
will> T shirt and a handshake.
will> 
will> The goal of this program is/has been to build a core of workers
will> so each conference does not have to reinvent the wheel.  If you
will> are into blisters, bone tired, and public service contact the
will> conference chair.  It is his/her call.  Like the Marines, they
will> are always need replacements for the ones that fell by the way.
will> 
will> Will Hightower
will> ABANA Board
will> 

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>