Collective Level Expectations

The Free Geek Collective ceased to exist on February 28, 2013. For information on current staff, please go to Staff. For detailed information about the re-organization of Free Geek's management structure, please go to 2013_Restructuring_Documents.

Current Expectations of Collective Members

The following statements are the expectations for a member of the Free Geek staff collective. These expectations have been agreed upon by the collective.

General Good Worker Expectations

• All collective workers are required to report all the hours that they work.
• Puts the interests of Free Geek before personal interests while working.
• Communicates effectively (i.e. specific communication with other staff/core concerning needs of his/her area, giving and receiving constructive criticism, communicating directly to solve conflict, offering a safe space to communicate if issues arise.)
• Appropriately uses the standard tools Free Geek has available to do her/his job. (These tools might include email lists, RT, the wiki, bulletin boards, etc.)
• Has basic computer knowledge (use of web browser, email and word processor, database and spreadsheet).
• Is able to work in an informal environment with a diverse staff while maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of adversity.
• Is able to remain flexible as Free Geek grows and changes.
• Is able to work well under stress in an unusual, somewhat chaotic setting while being courteous and friendly.
• Is self-motivated and able to multi-task (i.e., can supervise, organize and maintain an area and work on other projects almost entirely without supervision) but not afraid to ask questions.
• Is aware of safety on the job.
• Must set goals, have a job description and participate in a peer review process.
• Treats co-workers and volunteers with courtesy and respect (i.e., arrive on time or call if going to be late, be efficient and make good use of time, use the phone, socialize and take breaks at appropriate times).

Volunteer Management / Coordination

• Leaves volunteer-inhabited areas clean and ready for next shift.
• Makes volunteers and donors feel welcome, actively reaches out.
• Actively involves volunteers in appropriate projects.
• Listens to volunteers/donors and tries to meet their needs.
• Is a volunteer coordinator.
• Is patient and courteous with the public.
• Is able to work with and coordinate volunteers with a wide range of skills and experience.

Sharing the Load

• Actively participates in meetings.
• Is a reliable member of at least two standing committees, including the committee which most directly pertains to his/her job.
• Accurately assesses her/his own abilities and constraints when taking on commitments.
• Follows through with commitments.
• Contributes to other areas of Free Geek.
• Integrates into the whole of Free Geek.
• Participates in collective management structure.
• Participates in a consensus decision making process related to staff and policy issues.
• Shares in tackling the undesirable tasks.

Salary/Hours

• Salaries of all collective members are calculated using the same hourly rate.
• Collective members are expected to carry full-time workloads (not counting PTO and authorized forms of unpaid leave): Collective_Workload_Policy.

Common Goals

• We will strive to hire and allocate work so that no one needs to work more hours on average than they are paid for.
• One definition of a living wage is twice the amount of the current legal minimum wage. (In 2009 minimum wage in Oregon will be $8.50, twice that is $17.00, and we currently make $14.42.) This definition of a living wage will be used as one (long term) goal for staff compensation.
• We, as the Collective, strive to give workers a flexible schedule.