The Boiler Room is a non-profit organization open to anyone provided they abide by the posted rules, but is especially a place for the younger people in the community. The Boiler Room is funded in part by grants, under the condition that a drug and alcohol free environment is sustained and there are positive opportunities offered to the young people in the community.

It is important, as a volunteer at the Boiler Room, to understand these things and follow the policies stated below. Please remember that you, as a volunteer, represent the Boiler Room.

Boiler Room Staff Drug and Alcohol Policy

• The Boiler Room is a venue for growth, learning, and the empowerment of individuals. It is crucial for the Boiler Room to provide a safe and productive environment for volunteers and patrons, in part by elimination of drug and alcohol influence on the premises.
• No volunteer or employee shall illegally possess, use, manufacture, or distribute drugs or alcohol, or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol on the premises.
• Premises includes the physical building and outdoor property owned by The Boiler Room.
• If the manager or a board member believes that a volunteer or employee is in violation of the drug and alcohol policy while at the Boiler Room, the volunteer or employee will be reminded of the policy and of this signed agreement. The volunteer or employee will be asked to leave the premises for the remainder of the day, and a meeting will be called between the person believed to be in violation, the manager, and a board member. The person in question will not work any shifts until the situation is resolved.
• Continued violation of the drug and alcohol policy and/or an unwillingness to fully engage in seeking resolutions is grounds for dismissal.
• As in all situations, a volunteer or employee may request to meet privately with the manager and/or a board member if they feel they are being wrongly accused of a violation or they feel they are in need of assistance in complying with the drug and alcohol policy.
• Volunteer and employee rights in all situations include access to their personal file(s), and timely notification of all actions being taken concerning themselves in relation to any violation of a policy signed by themselves.
• If the manager is unaware of a violation of the drug and alcohol policy and/or is not on the premises at the time of a violation, any volunteers present and aware of a violation are requested to notify the manager as soon as possible and fill out an incident report.

The rules - to be posted in the Boiler Room at all times - are:

TOBACCO-FREE, ALCOHOL-FREE, DRUG-FREE, ANIMAL-FREE, HARASSMENT FREE, SEX-FREE, NO SLEEPING, RESPECT OTHERS, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE

Rules are interpreted and enforced by staff. The GOLDEN RULE is RESPECT yourselves, each other, and the Boiler Room as a shared community space. All volunteers are expected to enforce these rules while on shift and to follow them both while on shift and while in the Boiler Room at all other times.

EXPECTATIONS OF VOLUNTEERS

• If you sign up for a shift, show up and work the entire shift.
• If you can't show up for a shift, notify the manager/assistant manager/volunteer intern and find a replacement. You are responsible for the shift. You must find someone on staff to work for you if you cannot.
• Call and notify the person working the shift before yours if you are going to be late.
• Be polite and professional with customers and other employees.
• Do your job. Don't leave things for the next person - everyone has tasks and they balance out if everyone does their part.
• Follow the house rules at all times.
• Treat the Boiler Room and all who enter with RESPECT and follow/enforce Boiler Room rules.
• Complete a pre-training interview with the Manager/Assistant Manager
• Obtain a food handlers card and have on file with the Boiler Room before/during the training period of becoming a volunteer.
• Please give us two weeks notice if you are planning to leave us.
• Participate in all in-house required staff trainings, meetings, retreats, and parties.
• Attend a minimum of two staff meetings per month.
• Volunteer to work a minimum of 4 shifts per month.
• Maximum of 4 shifts per week unless approved by manager.

VOLUNTEER INCENTIVES

• After 4 shifts (3 training shifts + 1 non-training shift): Staff discounts on "Staff"-labeled PLU items.
• After 8 shifts (8 non-training shifts): staff discounts on Boiler Room clothing
• After 32 shifts (32 non-training shifts): free volunteer t-shirts unavailable to anyone else, with performance evaluation halfway (after 16 non-training shifts).
• Note: Volunteers must keep their shifts officially logged in both the green "Sign-up Schedule" and blue "Log-In Form".
• Note: Evaluations will take place after 16 non-training shifts have been completed and again after a total of 32 non-training shifts have been completed.
• Note: Volunteers lose all staff discounts after they have not volunteered within 14 days of their last full shift.
• Note: Volunteers must work a shift with an intern or the manager and review current policies and procedures if they have not volunteered within 14 days of their last full shift.
• Note: A volunteer will receive only one free volunteer t-shirt, as they do not accumulate after multiples of 32 shifts

GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL

• Use of controlled substance(s) at work
• Pulling weapons on others
• Stealing
• Not calling and not coming in without extraordinary circumstances
• Using the Boiler Room for personal use during closed hours without permission of the Manager/Assistant Manager
• Abusing house guidelines for use of Boiler Room furniture and equipment (i.e., TV, telephone, internet, etc)
• The volunteer on duty has the right to ask anyone to leave the Boiler Room premises for the remainder of their shift if they believe the person in question has broken Boiler Room rules. Filing of an incident report and notifying the manager, an intern, or a board member is required on such occasions.

GUIDELINES ON THEFT

• Any stealing of products, money from the till or personal valuables of another volunteer or patron is considered theft.
• Persons caught stealing will be asked to leave the Boiler Room immediately and will be banned from entrance to the Boiler Room for a period of 3 months.
• Persons caught stealing who wish to gain re-entrance to the Boiler Room must submit a written apology to staff stating what they did, why they did it, and what they are doing to correct the situation, regain trust, and make amends. This written apology will be read at a regular staff meeting happening one month into the three month ban for the individual. At that time, staff will meet with the offender to discuss feelings and forgiveness by staff. If the theft that occurred was volunteer to volunteer, the person who had an item stolen from them must accept the apology of the offender before the offender can regain entrance to the Boiler Room.
• Persons who have been caught stealing are welcome to "check-in" with the Boiler Room Staff during 1 meeting/month during the 2nd and 3rd month of the Ban.

GENERAL INFO FOR VOLUNTEERS OF THE BOILER ROOM

• All personnel policies including those related to wage and benefits shall be administered without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or handicap.
• Volunteer and employment interviews will include the manager/assistant manager and a delegate from the board of directors (when applicable.) Selection for position will be based on references, merit, fitness, and ability to perform tasks.
• Volunteers under the age of fifteen are required to team up with another volunteer who is over the age of fifteen for shift work. Volunteers do not receive wages. All tips made on shift are yours! New volunteers need to be trained by selected trainers for three shifts. New volunteers will be trained on espresso by the manager or another designated espresso trainer.
• Any personal use of the Boiler Room or its equipment must be approved by the manager and a board member. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
• Any questions you are unsure of should be directed to the manager or the board.
• The individual personnel file is regarded as confidential material. Information is available to the volunteer or employee, the manager, and board. Do not give out any phone numbers!!! It is against the law!!!
• Hours of Operation - In respect of city ordinances and neighbor relations, on non-event nights the Boiler Room will be closed for business by 11 pm and cleaned and locked by midnight. Event or program nights must be supervised by either an intern, a Board member, or the manager. On event or program nights the Boiler Room must be closed by 1 am and cleaned and locked by 2 am. The Boiler Room will not open earlier than 7 am. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the manager.
• Amplified sound must be kept to a maximum of 105 decibels at 6 feet from the amplifiers. That is the level at which, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation, the maximum safe exposure is about 1 hour before permanent hearing damage begins to occur. Music must not be played or amplified above 90db before 8 pm or after 11 pm.
• The SEX-FREE policy applies to sexual intercourse, oral sex, groping or heavy petting, indecent exposure, and pornography anywhere on the premises. It does not apply to hugs, holding hands, or kissing.

Volunteer Acknowledgement
I have read the Boiler Room Volunteer Agreement and discussed it with the Manager/Assistant Manager and agree to carry out my responsibilities as a Boiler Room volunteer to the best of my ability.
Signed; Volunteer                                                Dated
Signed; Manager/Assistant Manager                   Dated
Parental/Guardian Acknowledgement
If you are 17 years of age or younger you must fill out the information below and have your parent/guardian read the volunteer agreement and sign as well. If your Parent/Guardian has any questions regarding the boiler Room please contact the Manager.

Parent/Guardian ________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________
I/We understand that (name of volunteer) ________________________________wants to volunteer at the Boiler Room and have read the Boiler Room Volunteer Agreement and are aware of the commitment being made.

Signed; Parent/Guardian ____________________________________________    Dated

Revised and approved by Board of Directors April 2009