Under what condition can volunteers be deemed employees for workers' comp?

Under what condition can volunteers be deemed employees for workers' comp?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if paid
• D. Not in writing

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that workers’ compensation status depends on the existence of an employer–employee relationship tied to payment. Volunteers are usually not employees, but once a volunteer is paid for their services, they become an employee for workers’ compensation purposes. So the condition that makes volunteers be treated as employees is payment for their services, which triggers coverage under the workers’ comp system.

The key idea is that workers’ compensation status depends on the existence of an employer–employee relationship tied to payment. Volunteers are usually not employees, but once a volunteer is paid for their services, they become an employee for workers’ compensation purposes. So the condition that makes volunteers be treated as employees is payment for their services, which triggers coverage under the workers’ comp system.