Paid Work Agreements: Policy Considerations

If a recovery housing organization does allow residents to perform work for the organization or another associated organization or business, they must have a policy that clearly states the following:

• Paid work is entered into voluntarily. Residents cannot be forced to work for the organization. To be clear, a recovery housing program may require that residents get a job or seek a job, as appropriate for that particular resident in their recovery plan. However, if the resident does choose to work for an organization, it must be a free choice. The resident must have the ability to work elsewhere if they choose.
• Work must be paid at a fair market rate. This is not just minimum wage; this is a fair market rate. For example, if a resident is performing construction work, that is generally a highly paid industry and so offering minimum wage to this person would not be acceptable. The resident must receive a fair market value for their work.
• The work should not interfere with recovery goals. Recovery must always be allowed to come first for the resident.
• Residents who work for an organization should not get special benefits or treatment other than the fair pay. For example, if a program allows a resident who works for them to be late for curfew due to scheduled work, the organization must also allow other residents who have outside employment to be late for curfew due to scheduled work.