Mumsnet not paying staff disgusting

[stepuporshutup]

Just read that mumsnet do not pay their night staff.
This cannot be true can it mumsnet?
If it is true then what is going on at mnhq
Aibu to be shocked by this
Or do fellow mumsnetters think it is ok to work for free
If the story is true

Well explained @Sparklingbrook. I think they're also known as seagulls or pigeons (can't remember which - they fly in, shit all over everything and fly out again) but bitchplopper is the MN equivalent.

However, I still think that Mumsnet should have paid moderators overnight.

How about those unpaid night volunteers at Samaritans?

Who has done this on this thread?

🤣🤣🤣

Then perhaps this site is not the best fit for you.

Maybe it's the difference between people who volunteer and people who don't. I've volunteered lots with charities; with companies that make a profit; with local organisations that I've helped set up. My parents volunteered. I met my DH volunteering and we've both went on to volunteer with many other groups since. As a principle, it's really important to us.
If you're someone who is consumer-driven, materialistic and mercenary then I guess they'll just never understand the concept of volunteering and the benefits.

Mumsnet cannot campaign for wage equality, for the national living wage for all, and other similar things when they themselves pay some staff nothing.

I see this type of thing quite a bit around where I live. It's now liquidated but Tough Mudder was one that used to get lots of volunteers. It's very common at music festivals too. If you are getting something in return such as free entry then maybe it's more acceptable but it does seem wrong when companies are clearly profit driven businesses.

You might be right Golden. I’ve volunteered doing things that I enjoy doing. The “what’s in it for me” is just enjoying it. I’m lucky enough that everything I’ve wanted to do has fit in around my paid work. And most of the things I’ve volunteering doing I would have hated to be paid to do (changes the whole thing).

d0ves
Quotes deleted post

Then perhaps this site is not the best fit for you."

That's probably not a good way to express it, but there has been frustration (look for the threads) in the past, and calls for paid overnight mods, due to troll threads not being removed quickly enough and night watch not responding or being slow to respond.

I volunteer regularly and have done 16 years old. For the school and local and national charities. I have not and would not volunteer for a profit-making business.

They are not staff, they are volunteers.

@Pleaseletmeconfirm Most see free entry to a festival as payment in return for a volunteering shift. Although Glastonbury now pays their clean-up crew £10 an hour.

Actually, having said earlier that I wouldn't personally volunteer for a proft making business, I have realised that I have helped out numerous times over the years for my dd's dance school. It makes a profit, I'm sure, but that doesn't mean that I feel the need to be paid for doing what I choose to do. I enjoy being part of that community.

People will have a multitude of reasons for doing what they do. If the night watchers are happy, then I have no concerns.

I wonder why so many people seem to have difficulty grasping this point.

Being a volunteer and being a member of staff are not comparable. The expectations and motivations are different.

I've always volunteered too but I wouldn't dream of volunteering for a private buisness. That's just daft unless there was clearly something in it for me. The are limitless worthy charities that desperately need volunteers, why on earth would you choose to help out a private company.

I get that there is a bit of a muddy area where private buisness businesses are genuinely involved with charitable work but I wouldn't do anything that even partly benefits a private company when I could be doing something that could 100% benefit a worthy course. ( unless there was something in it for me, I'd happily volunteer at certain festivals for example to get to see particular bands)

But how would the current nightwatch moderators be paid, if they are not expected to be on duty all night, just ready to hide a thread if they happen to be on MN when someone posts a concern. Or are you saying they should pay someone who works a proper nightshift, so awake all night and has more rights in respect of deleting threads.

they should pay someone who works a proper nightshift, so awake all night and has more rights in respect of deleting threads.

Yes - they should have permanent overnight moderators who are paid.

@GoldenSongbird If you're someone who is consumer-driven, materialistic and mercenary then I guess they'll just never understand the concept of volunteering and the benefits.

at the moment, as a single parent with two children and no support, I don’t have time to volunteer. However, what puts me off volunteering when I do have time, is the thought that I’ll be volunteering alongside people like you. Impossibly smug and self-righteous, and dripping in judgement towards those that don’t volunteer (and I even suspect those they help In some cases)

How do they know if there's a concerning post if they aren't on duty all night?

That's just daft unless there was clearly something in it for me.

Of course, but that's the point, isn't it? Presumably, those who do it feel that there is something in it for them. Whether that's just enjoyment or a sense of satisfaction or the feeling of doing something useful or whatever will be very unique to the individual, but they wouldn't do it if they didn't want to.

And yes, of course there are lots of other "causes" that they could volunteer for which might be more worthy in your eyes, but maybe they don't want to. They are volunteers, after all, so it's kind of silly to be telling them what they should be doing instead. They can give their free labour wherever they choose.

Good Grief, I think maybe you need to calm down a bit!

I know the Night Watch VOLUNTEERS aren't paid, that is pretty much the definition of VOLUNTEER! I was on MN long before they were a thing. Everyone was asked if they wanted to VOLUNTEER.

YOU ACCUSED MN of being disgusting. I think accusing them of being disgusting without knowing all the facts is disgraceful.

but you carry on accusing people & over reacting. I have better things to do than engage with your nonsense.

You misunderstand. People can volunteer to do whatever they want. I've no beef with them. 😅It's Mumsnet HQ who are the ones that are doing something wrong. They should be paying someone to do the work. It be a great job for someone.

I volunteer for several nonprofit organizations in my community. They do have paid staff, but they wouldn't be able to provide the services they do without unpaid volunteers. I have also in the past volunteered for profit making businesses because it's something I've wanted to be a part of but haven't wanted an actual job. Sometimes even for profit businesses need willing volunteers or they would have to raise their prices and couldn't cover their costs.

@EineKleineNachtwatcher and @NiteWotcha

i am so interested to know your situation in terms of…. Husband? Children? Work?