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TrackingHours

I'll start this page, since we probably need to deal with it sooner, rather than later. Please add questions and possible answers that need to be considered when creating an hour tracking policy. --Sabo 19:10, 18 Jan 2007 (MST)


Why should we track hours spent working to build our community?

  • Building the community will require work from everyone. We might agree on a work requirement in addition to the monthly dues. Tracking hours verifies that we are meeting our agreement.
  • Tracking hours makes the hidden work visible, which should help with the martyrs and slackers discussion process. Also, a member who usually work extra hours wouldn't feel so guilty if s/he needs to take a break and work fewer hours for awhile.
  • People will contribute different numbers of hours to building the community and we will want some way to recognise those contributions.

How could the hours be used?

  • As a factor for determining the order of choosing housing or some other privilege.
  • To pay community fees, especially for buying or leasing a housing unit.
  • Sell them to another member who has not worked their agreed number of hours.
  • In lieu of membership dues (at what hourly rate)

How could we track the hours?


  • Web form that stores them in a database.
  • Paper form (timecard) that is submitted to the hour keeper. The hour keeper would need to enter them into an electronic form so they are visible. (Should someone be charged time for causing this extra work of the hour keeper?)

What work is expected of members and what is tracked as work?

For each of these, is it an expectation or is it tracked as work or does it not count as either? How much of the time counts? Does the community have to agree that it counts as work? What if someone thinks someone is abusing the process?

  • Reading and responding to email
  • Meeting with potential members at other events, such as Dandelion or witch camps
  • Traveling around the country scouting for bioregions and sites, visiting other intentional communities
  • Typing stuff like this in the wiki while watching Iron Chef
  • Attending face-to-face meetings
  • Travel to face-to-face meetings
  • Attending workshops and seminars about intentional communities, permaculture or other relevant topics
  • Performing tasks associated with a community role, such as treasurer, listserv administration
  • Creating marketing or outreach materials
  • Work that is part of a paid position
  • Attending monthly small group phone meetings
  • Discussing community business with another member in person or on the phone

What are some questions that need to be answered for any policy dealing with hours?

  • What is the cash equivalent for hours?
  • Are the hours of all kinds of work the same value?
  • If the hours are used for a process with a cash equivalent (for example, in lieu of monthly dues) do they still count for a process without a cash equivalent (for example, choosing housing)?
  • Can members buy hours from the community or each other?
  • Is there any difference for partners? For example, if hours are used for choosing housing or some other privilege that would also benefit the partner, the hours of the two partners could be averaged.

What policies and issues are related to this?


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